According to the Social Security Administration, men have an average life expectancy of 84.3 years. To stay as healthy as possible, there are four things men should do.

1. Keep Up With Preventative Health Checks and Vaccinations.

Your dad must go through the regular preventative health checks. After the age of 40, your dad should have his blood pressure checked each year. His doctor may recommend a fecal occult blood test to check for blood in the stool each year. Every 10 years, he should undergo a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. This may be increased if there is a family history of colon cancer.

Every couple of years, your dad should undergo an eye exam. A cholesterol screening is also important every three years. Prostate cancer screenings should start by the age of 50. This can be done through a rectal check or PSA blood test.

For vaccinations, your dad should get a flu shot each year.  A tetanus (Tdap) shot is recommended every 10 years. On or after a 60^th birthday, the shingles vaccination is also important.

2. Exercise Daily.

Each day (at least 150 minutes per week), your dad needs to exercise. He can vary the activities he does or stick with something he enjoys. He needs to workout at least 30 minutes a day. That activity should get his heart pumping. A brisk walk is good. He could also swim, ride a bike, or head to the gym for a yoga class.

3. Eat Properly.

Your dad’s diet helps him stay healthy. If he eats meat, he needs to stick to lean meats and seafood. Plenty of vegetables and fruits are also important. For sides, whole grains are best. Legumes are ideal for boosting fiber intake.

He needs to avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Processed foods are not healthy choices. He should also limit his intake of alcohol.

4. Stop Smoking.

If your dad is a smoker, it’s important that he quit. He can talk to his doctor about smoking cessation aids and programs. With the right balance of supportive groups or therapy and products that help ease him off his nicotine addiction, he can quit smoking and improve his health.

There are other things that can help your dad stay healthy. He should avoid stress. If he has a hard time keeping up with housework and laundry on his own, caregivers can help out. If he forgets to take his medications that help with high blood pressure or cholesterol, caregivers are happy to offer medication reminders. They can cook healthy meals, join him on daily walks, and be there to support him when he quits smoking.

The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable caregiver services in Braselton, GA and the surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/lifeexpectancy.html

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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