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Age can be a tricky thing to some Costa Mesa-area residents: some days you can really feel every year with all your aches and pains, and you’re thankful for in-home care. Other days you savor all the interesting experiences you’ve acquired and continue to enjoy the adventure called life – and you’re still thankful for in-home care, or at least want to learn more about some of the available options.
The team at Accredited Home Care is always eager to answer any questions, share info and discuss the advantages of home health care for many people’s situations.
Educating people about the options for home care in their region and the services available is actually the easy part. What’s often the bigger challenge is their attitude.
We’re all going to have days where we feel bad physically, mentally or emotionally. We may miss people from our past, or have regrets about choices we’ve made or failed to make. Things tend to hurt more and make us more tired. These are completely standard ways of thinking.
But even though are always reasons to be unhappy, there are also always reasons to be happy. Essentially, it’s important for your mental health and those around you to find the good in the world and focus on the positive when you can.
Feeling Fine
A big part of feeling good about life in general is feeling good about your age. It’s easy for people to say ‘age is just a number,’ but there some differences from how you felt in your 20s and 30s to how you feel today.
Instead, many experts suggest worrying less about the calendar or number of birthday candles on your birthday cake, and more on how you feel.
There’s even a term for this: “Wellderly,” which generally describes the attitude of not only accepting the good and bad of getting older, but taking some effort to feel good about it. It’s the spirit of searching for anything that can cause you any degree of happiness all through the day, no matter how big or how small.
Feeling Wellderly doesn’t have to be reserved solely for older people – every age and demographic can benefit.
That’s also the advice of health, nutrition and fitness author Dr. Pam Peeke, who studies why some people ‘age’ better than others, looking at everything from genetics to disease resistance to diet to levels of exercise.
Her data has included a study from the Scripps Translational Science Institute that looked at the genetic data of people in their 90s and considered to be in surprisingly fine health.
Her conclusion? Attitude is everything, whether you’re in your 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or anywhere on either end of the age scale.
Rather than thinking that you’re at the finale of your life and being satisfied with all the things you’ve already done, instead think of all the amazing things you still can do. You may be a little slower than you used to be to accomplish them and things may hurt that didn’t use to, but looking forward positively can help in many ways.
Peeke still emphasizes the importance of staying fit, physically and mentally, and that can include a sensible diet, regular physical activity, and always seeking new experiences, but her approach is that all of these things are necessary to continue your journey, rather than expecting to wrap things up and cool down.
Let’s Celebrate
Costa Mesa residents wanting to take this advice to heart and begin “thriving, not surviving,” as Peeke puts it, can kick off their journey anytime by using their calendar. If you’re comfortable with a traditional calendar you write on with a pen, use that. Or, if you’ve always wanted to learn to use a digital calendar on your phone or your computer, it’s a perfect opportunity to try to figure it all out.
Once you’ve figured this out, you can write down daily challenges or reminders to yourself. You also can jot down March 19 (It’s a Monday in 2018). Not only is it right before the official end of winter and the start of spring, it’s National Wellderly Day, as well as “As Young as You Feel Day.”
Since it’s a relatively new and obscure holiday, there likely aren’t massive celebrations going on in your community. But you can start them or hold your own, or even gather with friends and family. Look for ways to savor life this day or any day.
Home Care Helps
Home health care services can also play a helpful role in getting you where you need to be. Having regular in-home visits from medical professionals can go a long way in helping you stay independent. This can include nursing services, as well as other services such as massage.
In-home caregivers can also help with everything from help around the house to transportation. They can also provide reminders for medication and assist with range of motion exercises.
People interested in learning more about home health care options can contact Accredited Home Care.
