This blog began as a journal of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Award visit to the USA to study how Lifestyle Redesign could be used in Occupational Therapy to improve the hospital/home interface for older people. It has continued to record developments and inspiration gained from that experience since returning from Los Angeles early in 2012.

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Be Inspired-
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Tuesday 9 April 2013

Health and Happiness

 

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Health and Happiness…

Health and Happiness are closely linked. I have been looking at lots of different advice leaflets and websites with tips for good health in older people. There are some common themes so I have tried to summarise them below. Nothing is ‘high tech’ and the important thing is to look for ways to make them part of your every day routine.

  • Keep physically active
  • Keep mentally active
  • Eat well, a good variety of food, not too much and not too little
  • Don’t smoke!
  • Drink in moderation
  • Enjoy being involved with friends, family and your local community
  • Have a hobby that is absorbing and enjoyable
  • Don’t be afraid to try new things




All of these can be tailored to your own life, your own interests and physical abilities. Often you can combine a few, for example going to a local exercise class with friends might combine exercise and being involved with friends, if you went to a café or brought a picnic to share afterwards you could try new healthy food choices…

Your Occupational Therapist looks at the ‘whole person’ and sees that all aspects of your life are important and that it is important to have a good balance in your life. Your Occupational Therapist can help you to find ways to incorporate health promoting routines into your everyday life.

I’d love to hear if anyone has any tips that they would like to share…

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