With our busy lives and packed schedules, we often forget the basics of good health. In this article, we will remind you of four basic healthy habits that can be incorporated at any age and benefit everyone in the family. If you are a caregiver who needs to stay strong for your family or if you have an elderly parent with compromised health, try focusing on these simple, healthy habits.
Four Basic Habits for Good Health
Get Your Zzzz’s. It seems simple enough, but so many of us struggle to get enough sleep each night. Many of us assume that we can run on less sleep as we age, but this is not true. Older adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Your aging parent may be getting less sleep or suffering from interrupted sleep due to frequent urination, pain from arthritis, medication side effects, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, heartburn, and stress, to name a few. It is essential to help them set up a bedtime routine that is conducive to good sleep—going to bed at the same time each night, avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the evening, sleeping in a dark and quiet room, turning the TV off, and not napping during the day. Find more tips for a good night’s sleep, visit the National Sleep Foundationwebsite.
Walk More. Many people see exercise as all or nothing, which can lead to them feeling defeated before they even begin. As a simple change, try walking more in your daily lives. Purchase a Fitbit to monitor the number of steps you take throughout the day. Be aware of how often you grab the car keys when you could be walking instead. Can you walk to the school to pick up your kids or walk with your mom around the mall on a rainy day? Putting on your sneakers and hitting the pavement is free, convenient, and will leave you and your parent feeling energized.
Eat Healthy. Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Seniors sense of taste and smell can fade with age, so make your plates colorful with a variety of produce in deep green, yellow, and bright orange to visually stimulate their appetite. Remember to include nuts, beans, legumes and fiber-rich whole grains in your menu. Stick to lean meat choices and incorporate heart-healthy fish at least twice per week. For healthy bones, include sources of calcium and vitamin D. When cooking use healthy fats like olive or coconut oil. Add herbs and spices to reduce your need to add salt or more fat.
Stay Hydrated. As your parent becomes older, their sense of thirst will fade. If they suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, they may forget to drink or eat. It’s important to make sure your parent gets plenty of fluids throughout the day. Hydration is vital to one’s health to keep electrolytes balanced, blood volume normal, aids in digestion, transportation of nutrients, and kidneys functioning. And if your parent becomes dehydrated, they have the added risk of mental confusion. Dehydration is common among the elderly, so prevention is critical.
If you have questions about how Aegis Living helps our residents stay healthy visit one of the communities near you and speak with one of our expert staff members.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.