Getting older is an interesting journey filled with many ups and downs. It can be tricky to navigate for both senior parents and adult children but also very rewarding.
One aspect of aging our team at Sedgebrook consistently hears about from older adults and their families is the desire to live a long life. We’re often asked, “What healthy habits should I incorporate into my day?” “Is there a specific diet and exercise plan I should be following?” The list goes on and on.
Our team does everything possible to promote healthy aging in our senior living community in Lincolnshire, Illinois, through various wellness initiatives. There are also experts in the healthcare and aging fields that have put their passion for the process into writing.
Whether you’re a senior or an adult child witnessing your parents age, the following books are popular reads that will help you stay connected in each moment and explore different ways to improve overall health through the aging process.
1. The Wonder of Aging: A New Approach to Embracing Life After Fiftyby Michael Gurian
New York Times bestselling author Michael Gurian takes you through every stage of aging, from middle age and beyond, what to expect, and how to embrace the journey. His philosophy inspires readers who are having difficulty accepting aging to lean into positivity.
2. Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being by Andrew Weil, MD
Dr. Weil is known for sharing both traditional and nontraditional advice throughout the aging process. In this book, he focuses on healthy eating, regular exercise, and why you shouldn’t fight back against getting older.
3. The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner
You may be lucky enough to know someone who’s lived a long life into their nineties or even early hundreds! How do they do it? Dan Buettner has studied different cultures and regions around the world where it’s more common to find people who live to be 100 and shares his findings in this interesting book. Spoiler alert: It’s not all about physical healt!h
4. The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age by Steven R. Gundry, MD
Did you know that from the moment we’re born, our cells begin to age? Dr. Gundry wants readers to understand how aging works while reassuring them that aging doesn’t always mean something negative. He’s mapped out a new approach to staying healthy that focuses on the oldest parts of our bodies – gut bacteria – and how research shows that his gut-healthy plan can prevent and reverse diseases from cancer to dementia to lowering the risk of heart disease.
5. Meditations for Caregivers by Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer
This book is perfect for adult children caregivers of aging parents. Caring for your parents certainly takes a toll on your physical and mental health, and it’s essential to make time to care for yourself along the way. Chapters in this book include topics like accepting your feelings and how to manage stress in a spiritual way.
6. Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don’t Have To by David A. Sinclair, PhD
By now, you probably understand that regular physical activity helps to prevent health problems. You may have tried different exercises coupled with eating less processed foods in order to get in shape. But why not try tactics that are a bit more out of the box? Acclaimed Harvard Medical School scientist, and one of TIME’s Most Influential People, Dr. Sinclair reveals how emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes can increase your lifespan and alter your outlook on aging.
7. The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer by Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, and Elissa Epel, PhD
Aging doesn’t have to be complicated. The authors of this text share simple changes you can make to your diet, sleep, and mental health habits that can improve your immune system and memory and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues. You can prioritize participating in activities you enjoy and worrying less about getting older if you practice “The Telomere Effect.”
Discover a healthy and active retirement lifestyle at Sedgebrook.
At our Life Plan Community, residents choose how they spend each day. Living a healthy retirement is easy too, when there is a variety of wellness-focused services and amenities at your fingertips. Experience how you’ll age well and happily when you schedule a personal tour today.
