No matter what your grandparents love to do in their free time, making sure they are healthy and happy can help them feel secure. Even a few simple habits can greatly influence their mental and physical health and help them stay active and full of energy.

1. Spend Quality Time Together

Many seniors often struggle to find regular social outlets, since travelling and visiting other people may be more of a struggle as they age and become less mobile. Being alone with your thoughts can cause loneliness, which can influence how stressed they feel. In order to combat this issue, you can take time to plan outings and visits with them whenever you have free time, as well as suggesting local community groups they could join to meet like minded people. 

2. Get Moving

As people age, they generally feel less inclined to move around and regularly exercise. If you can encourage your grandparents to do gentle exercises with you, such as walking around the block or doing light yard work, then you may help them stay healthy over time. Senior fitness opportunities can also help your grandparents meet other people their age if they join a local group that meets for walks or recreational activities.

3. Make Food Together

After a long day, older people may not feel inclined to cook or bake from scratch. Getting a meal from a fast-food restaurant or another place is often more tempting, however, one way to eat better and learn more about cooking from someone close to you is to make food with your grandparents. Not only can this help you both connect and grow closer, but you can also help cut out unhealthy elements like excess salt and sugar in their food since you can have some control over what goes in the meals you both eat.

4. Take Safety Precautions

Whenever you are riding in a car, make sure to wear a seatbelt and encourage your grandparents to do the same. You should also take safety precautions when on a bike or doing any other physical activity. Since many older people develop long-lasting health conditions or have weaker bones, there is a greater risk for serious injury. Even following simple safety precautions can prevent problems like brain trauma or spinal cord pain. You can also take steps to monitor heart rate while exercising.

5. Stretch Your Creative Muscles

While physical health is important, staying active mentally can also help prevent depression and anxiety in older people. One way to do this is by picking up a hobby such as drawing or painting. Not only can your grandparents improve their art skills, but they can also create handmade works of art they can feel proud of. Some seniors may be interested in drawing figures, while others may want to craft clay pots and put them in the kiln to dry. Enjoying using your mind and hands can help improve the well-being of many seniors.

6. Go to Regular Doctor's Visits

It can feel tempting to skip out on regular check-ups or healthcare appointments as you age and it gets harder to move around, but encouraging preventative care as your loved ones age can help in more ways than one. Screenings and risk evaluations are important tools that can help diagnose an odd ache or pain that leads to a bigger issue. Catching these signs early on can make a huge difference if your grandparent needs surgery or some other kind of long-term care. Taking small steps and following what the health professionals tell them to do can help your grandparents to stay healthy and happy.

Consider these tips to help your grandparents live a happy, fulfilling life far into the future.