Welcome to the latest edition of Senior Snippets: the monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Stuart Hart, Director of Home Instead Senior Care in Ruislip and Harrow

October 1st is the International Day of Older Persons and this year’s theme is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies.

We all know the basics of aging well - eating right, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking, but seniors can make other choices that can have an impact beyond personal health to gain an edge on aging gracefully.

Here are some tips on how to age gracefully in the golden years. 

Take Care of Mental Health: A positive mind-set sets the stage for enacting changes that can ease the aging process. Keeping in touch regularly with family and friends is now easier than ever thanks to technology like Skype, Facetime and social media. Keeping busy is also a great way to help prevent loneliness. Consider taking an interesting course, volunteering at a local hospital or animal shelter, or joining a book club.

Do brain-aerobics: The more you challenge your brain, the better it will perform. An active brain allows for sharper concentration, enhanced function and focus, and improved problem-solving skills. Try playing brain games, learning a new language or instrument, or taking up a new hobby to keep the brain active and engaged.

Sleep: It is considered best practice to try and get between 7-9 hours of sleep at night. Not getting enough sleep puts you at risk for a host of physical and mental problems.

Limit Vices: Many habits people have enjoyed for years begin to catch up with them as they get older. Smoking and drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages have dehydrating effects on the skin as well as your overall health. Now is a good time to quit smoking and limit drinking and you might also see reduced fine lines and wrinkles.

Protect your skin from the sun: Too much time in the sun can cause wrinkles, not to mention cancer. Always make sure to wear sunscreen as it can help prevent your skin’s ageing.

Growing older affects all parts of our bodies including hair, skin, heart, muscles, and more, but aging well may be as simple as adopting some easy everyday habits.

If you would like to speak to someone at Home Instead, please do not hesitate to get in touch and you can call us on 01895 624230. We also welcome any suggestions for future topics from you all. All you have to do is write to me at stuart.hart@homeinstead.co.uk or by post to 51a High Street, Ruislip HA4 7BD