Spring Health Tips for Seniors

After a long winter spring is finally just around the corner! This season of rebirth is a perfect time to shake off the winter blues and embrace healthy habits that will last throughout the rest of the year. Here are five health tips for seniors that you can spring into this season.

1. Embrace the Nice Weather - While we’re not quite ready to pull out our swimsuits, we’re now reaching the days when we can comfortably spend time outside without biting wind chills. Take advantage of this by getting outside for a walk or opening a window to get the fresh air indoors. Just be sure to wear lots of layers - spring is famous for being pleasant one minute and a bit chilly the next, a phenomenon that is even more apparent for seniors.
   
   
2. Eat In-Season Produce - Not only is in-season produce cheaper and better for the environment, it tastes better too! This spring work to incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables into your diet. In Pennsylvania, these include asparagus, tomatoes and strawberries.
   
   
3. Get Your Hands Dirty - Speaking of seasonal produce, why not try your hand at growing some? Now is the perfect time to get started on the garden that you’ve always wanted. Not only is gardening a great hobby, but you can also reap the benefits of your hard work in a few months when your fruits & vegetables are ready to be harvested. If you don’t have a ton of space, we suggest cultivating plants like peppers or tomatoes since these can easily grow in pots. You can even try your hand at an herb garden that can grow inside your kitchen!
   
   
4. Avoid Allergens - Changing seasons tend to stir up common allergens like dust, mold, and grass which can make spring an uncomfortable time of year for allergy sufferers. However, comfort isn’t the only concern - untreated allergies can lead to breathing troubles and infection over time.
   
   
5. Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet - Spring is a common time to do a deep clean of your home, but during this purge, many people forget to clean out the medicine cabinet! We recommend using this time to carefully review any medications that you may have accumulated in the past year and dispose of any that are no longer needed or that have expired. Even if the medication is expired please be sure to dispose of it responsibly in either a drug disposal pouch or through a drug take-back program.

We hope that these tips help you have a healthy spring is full of fun times and memories with your family & friends.