UF/IFAS Pinellas County
Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent
September is Healthy Aging Month an annual celebration designed to focus attention on the positive aspects of growing older and encourage Americans over the age of 50 to take personal responsibility for their health. Get started by taking these few simple and important steps.
Stay physically active. Regular exercise can help the risk of disease and maintain mobility. Look for daily opportunities to exercise in work and play. Walk by parking your car several parking aisles away from the store or office entrance and walk briskly! Choose an exercise you like and stick with it. Enjoy exercising with a friend.
Choose healthy foods. Eat nutrient rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods. Learn about building a healthy plate at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. SuperTracker one of the features on the website can help you plan, analyze, and track your diet and physical activity. Find out what and how much to eat; track foods, physical activities, and weight; and personalize with goal setting, virtual coaching, and journaling.
Take care of your financial health. It is important to be educated about budgeting, insurance, and retirement accounts as well as savings and investments. The University of Florida/IFAS offers fact sheets filled with helpful information on various financial topics. Click on Money topics to access or join one of the free monthly classes offered by the University of Florida Master Money Mentors. Register at http://pinellassustainableliving.eventbrite.com/.
Connect with people regularly. Spend time with those who make you feel upbeat and you enjoy spending time with and try to do it daily. Even if you are not close by, call or email frequently to keep relationships fresh.
Give of Yourself. Be generous with your time and volunteer. You can help out at the local food pantry, teach a child how to read or become a Pinellas County Extension Master Food and Nutrition Volunteer. This training will equip you with the knowledge and skills to help others improve their lives through healthy eating and physical activity. Register at http://pinellassustainableliving.eventbrite.com/.
There are many resources to help you learn about healthy aging. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_elder_health to find out more.
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