Nutrition is important at any age, but especially for the elderly. Seniors are at risk for several health conditions that can cause serious issues down the line without proper prevention. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect your overall well-being and promote healthy aging as you transition into senior living. 

Special Nutritional Needs

Seniors have special nutritional needs that set them apart from other age groups. After most people turn 70, they require higher levels of certain vitamins and minerals to preserve their physical health. For example, increased consumption of vitamin D and calcium becomes essential to maintain bone density. Fortunately, these vitamins are easy to add to your diet. To up your calcium intake, focus on lean dairy products and leafy green vegetables. Vitamin D can be found in foods like salmon and eggs. You can also choose to take a multivitamin that contains the recommended daily dosage of these vitamins. 

Disease Prevention

Proper nutrition is paramount to preventing the onset of diseases, both mental and physical. Older adults often have a higher risk of developing health issues like heart disease and diabetes. These conditions can have a serious impact on your quality of life and even impact your life expectancy. In addition, aging can reduce your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. By ensuring that you are ingesting all the vitamins your body needs, you can protect yourself and enhance your overall well-being.

Add and Subtract

Just as it’s important to add the right foods to your diet, it’s also a good idea to cut out the less nutritious choices. Excessive consumption of compounds like sodium, refined sugars, and saturated fats can lead to high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. It’s perfectly fine to indulge occasionally but be sure to do so in moderation and supplement your diet with the vitamins you need to stay healthy. 

Healthy Aging at Twin Town Villa

At Twin Town Villa assisted living community, our home-cooked meals encourage healthy aging and allow you to enjoy your life while simultaneously preserving your health. For more information on our community or to schedule a tour of our beautiful grounds, call 218.643.9542 or contact us here. 

If you or your loved one are considering relocating to an assisted living community, you may be wondering about the benefits of such a move, especially during the cold Minnesota months. In addition to the compassionate service and dedicated personal care services, there are several advantages to living in an assisted living community like Twin Town Villa during the winter months.

No Shoveling Snow

If you’ve lived in Minnesota during one of our signature snowy winters, you know that the season can be accompanied by a variety of extra chores. One of the most strenuous duties that come with winter is shoveling snow. This necessary activity can be quite hazardous, putting excessive strain on your back and knees. By residing in an assisted living community like Twin Town Villa, you don’t have to worry about your loved one undertaking dangerous tasks like shoveling snow off their driveway or steps.

Seasonal Safety

There’s nothing more frightening than experiencing a fall alone and being unable to call for help. And in the winter, there’s always the chance that inconspicuous ice could be posing a safety hazard on your sidewalks, porch, or driveway. At an assisted living community like Twin Town Villa, there is a reduced risk of falls due to our excellent groundskeeping, maintenance, and housekeeping services. Our outdoor areas are always cleared of snow and ice to ensure your peace of mind. And, in the event an accident does happen, we offer a 24-hour emergency staffing response system to get the needed help quickly. 

Social Surroundings

The winter months also signify the beginning of the holiday season. Whether you or your loved one celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, it’s always best to spend the holidays surrounded by friends and family. Living at Twin Town Villa allows your loved one to experience the holiday season with friendly faces and warm hospitality. 

Request a Tour of Twin Town Villa Today

Live life to the fullest with our personalized care and warm environment at Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, MN. For more information on our assisted living community or to schedule a tour of our beautiful community and grounds, call 218. 643.9542 or contact us online. 

Often, the residents at Twin Town Villa inspire us with their wisdom, humor, and perspective.  We learn from them every day and have a lot of fun together!  There is a silver lining in every decade, and these are some of our favorite quotes about aging in the “golden years”.

Inspiring Quotes About Aging

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
– Abraham Lincoln

“The great thing about getting older is that you get a chance to tell the people in your life who matter what they mean to you.”
– Mike Love

“The spirit never ages. It stays forever young.”
– Lailah Gifty Akita

“To keep the heart unwrinkled — to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent — that is to triumph over old age.”
– Thomas Bailey Aldrich

“Old age … is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.”
– Confucius

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”
-George Bernard Shaw

“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
– Samuel Ullman

“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”
– Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

“Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
– Mark Twain

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”
– Frank Lloyd Wright

“Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff. There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them.”
– Betty White

“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
-Betty Friedan

Tour the Twin Town Villa Community

Twin Town Villa has Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Care Suites in Breckenridge, Minnesota. If you are looking for a place to call home for your parent or loved one, please reach out to us at Twin Town Villa. You can contact us online or call 218.643.9542 to request a tour.

It is common for senior citizens to experience issues with mobility and loss of functionality as they age.  Mobility issues could include any challenges that a senior has moving around physically.  Functional limitations would include difficulty with everyday tasks such as eating, using the restroom, preparing food, getting dressed, etc. Additional mobility aids or accessibility modifications could be necessary.

Causes and Effects of Mobility Issues

Loss of mobility in seniors is usually a result of multiple impairments to muscles, joints, central nervous system, and other physiological systems.  It is not a surprise, that with the loss of mobility, mental and emotional health is also affected.  Not being able to do things independently can affect the quality of life and cause depression.

Preventing Falls

Elderly people are prone to balance issues and falls. This can be a result of already existing mobility issues.  Falls can also be the cause of future mobility issues because the individual may be afraid to do things they once did, or have physical problems or pain as a result of the fall. Here are some tips on preventing falls.

Reducing Mobility Issues

Some mobility issues are unavoidable and just part of the natural aging process. By avoiding being sedentary or sitting for long periods of time, your loved ones will help protect their mobility. Staying active with regular exercise also helps elderly people to stay limber and mobile. For those still living at home, a safety audit can help to identify potential fall hazards. Of course, a healthy diet can also make a difference.

Mobility Aids & Accessibility

There are a variety of mobility aids and accessibility products that help older adults as their mobility needs change. At TwinTown Villa, our rooms and living areas have built-in accessibility aids such as grab bars, accessible bathrooms, and more.  When mobility aids such as wheelchairs, canes, or walkers are used, the resident and their families are assured they are in a safe and accessible space at Twin Town Villa.  Our residents enjoy many of the personal care services that reduce the stress of living alone or having to do home modifications.

Tour the Twin Town Villa Community

Our skilled and caring staff is always looking out for the best interest of our residents, as their abilities and mobility change. If you are looking for a place to call home for your parent or loved one, please reach out to us at Twin Town Villa. You can contact us online or call 218.643.9542 to request a tour.