MARAK

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strolls can keep seniors healthier longer.

• Stay hydrated — Substitute water for sugary or alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and stay safe.

• Keep your teeth healthy by brushing twice daily and cleaning with floss. See your dentist every 6 months for cleanings and check-ups.

• Get free a physical and check-ups when you sign up for Medicare. After that first year, you receive free annual wellness visits. Visit your doctor regularly for preventive services like cancer and diabetes screenings.

• Sleep at least 7 hours each night.

• Talk with your doctor about your family health history.

• Older adults who wear eyeglasses should have the prescription checked every year for changes and the eyes screened for health issues.

• Stay socially active with family and friends. Join a seniors club or a church group that takes regular outings or holds get-togethers.

• Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds. It’s still the simplest way to prevent the spread of germs.

• Stay mentally healthy — do crossword puzzles, read and write and try new hobbies to stimulate the mind and engage with the world.

Even during the current global pandemic, staying engaged and active is important — maybe even more so. Activities like these ward off a decline in mental health.

Carol Marak is an aging advocate, syndicated columnist, and editor at Seniorcare. com.

She earned the Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from UC Davis, School of Gerontology. Get on the waitlist for her Facebook subscription group and learn how to plan for aging well. Send an email to carol@ seniorcare. com and say you're interested in the group. Aging Matters is a weekly column tackling everyday challenges that our growing elderly population and their loved ones face. It is also published in a variety of syndication partners including newspapers all over the country.