At Marjorie P. Lee, we know senior living.  We understand that living well goes hand in hand with aging gracefully, and maintaining good mental health, intellectual strength and acuity is just as important as staying physically fit.

It’s not too late for you to take steps to prevent memory loss, even as an older adult.

We’ve made a list of 5 simple steps to get you started on the road to mental health.  Try them out, and you just might find your mind becoming clearer and more alert while your memory becomes sharper and stronger.

1. Exercise Regularly

Physical activity is essential for the health of both your body and your mind.  Studies have shown that adults who maintain a routine of regular exercise have retained mentally acuity in their 70s and 80s.

Try a combination of aerobic and strength activities which work together to get both your blood and your muscles pumping.  Establish a regular routine and reap the rewards of good lung function, better circulation, lower blood pressure, stronger bones, balanced hormones, mental acuity and better memory and just a general sense of well being.

Consider a regimen that combines brisk walking with the lifting of small weights.

2. Stimulate Your Intellect

Your brain works like a muscle.  It needs regular exercise to stay in shape.  You can work out your brain and increase your mental acuity in a number of ways.

Engaging in intelligent conversation with an up-beat partner at your retirement community can help get your brainwaves flowing.  If you’re flying solo for the day, try a fun activity that needs a little brain power like Sudoku or crossword puzzles.

3. Maintain Social Connectedness

You can’t be the lone wolf all the time without suffering some serious side effects.  Find local events or activities to participate in or join a retirement community or senior center.  Staying active within a community of peers or like minds keeps spirits up and creates an optimistic outlook on life that can help forestall mental decline.

There really is power in positive thinking.

4. Get Enough Sleep

You can help your body fight all manner of physical and mental ailments by getting at least seven hours of good sleep a night.  Anything less than that disrupts the production of important hormones and proteins and can leave your brain foggy and your immune system vulnerable.

And don’t think that you can make up for a sleep debt by sleeping in on your off days— your brain needs to recharge every night in order to maintain mental acuity.  Those extra hours on the weekend don’t carry over.

5. Eat Age Defying Foods

There really is such a thing as super foods, and they’re colorful!  Dark purple foods like blackberries or blueberries and the dark greens of spinach and broccoli can help work miracles on your health when added to a regular diet that includes nuts, seeds, fiber, fish and some poultry.

According to the Harvard Medical School, a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as healthy fats and whole grains plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and health.

These good health practices won’t just help you improve mental acuity.  They can also reduce your risk of developing those illnesses that lead to memory loss.  And healthy habits always decrease the likelihood that you'll need medications which could have damaging side effects.

 If you have any questions about the services we provide or how our community can help you maintain mental acuity, contact us at 513.272.5555, extension 4371. You can also visit our website to take a virtual tour of our facility.

Join us today and start living well into the future.