Behaviors of a Healthy Lifestyle

• Not smoking
• Drinking alcohol in moderation
• Exercising
• Getting adequate rest
• Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
• Coping with stress
• Having a positive outlook

We should remember that there is a range of individual response to aging. Biologic and chronologic ages are not the same. In addition, body systems do not age at the same rate within any individual. For example, you might have severe arthritis or loss of vision while the function of your heart or kidneys is excellent. Even those aging changes that are considered "usual" or "normal" are not inevitable consequences of aging.
What do these age-related changes in our body systems mean? Here is what you should prepare for down the road.

• First, with advancing age, we become less like each other biologically, so our health care and home life needs to be more individualized.
• Body systems that can be minimally affected by age are often profoundly influenced by lifestyle behaviors such as cigarette smoking, physical activity, and nutritional intake, and by circumstances such as financial means.
• Finally, it’s helpful to consider ahead of time our possible choices in case certain situations arise. For example, if you become less physically able to take part in an athletic activity you did before, is there a different activity you might enjoy? Are there things you might like to do to keep your mind active? More serious situations to consider might include death of a spouse, or if you find your abilities becoming more and more limited. What about your home, can it be modified to fit your needs? WithEvolutionary Lifestyle Home Design™, you have the ability to remodel your home using the principals of Universal design in a stylish way to fit those changes, allowing you and your family to stay in your home for the rest of your lives. Have you discussed how you would like to handle such situations and your wishes with your family?

Source: American Geriatric Society

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