I always say “You get old when you stop doing it regardless of age.” I have sometimes seen 25-year-olds with less energy and drive than some 80-year-olds I know.

That said, I know I usually write about how to fit into your skinny jeans, the best supplements to take, and improving your self-esteem. But today I would like to write about how I age and how I take care of myself. It was prompted by the fact that my brothers and sisters and I have just commemorated the 10th anniversary of my dad’s passing. He would have turned 93 on April 4. Looking back on him made me realize how much I missed him, but also how many of his special qualities I’m proud to have, like his joie de vivre, his enthusiasm, his love of dancing, and his ability to work hard for what he wanted.

Next month is of course Mother’s Day and I would like to reflect a little more on my dear mom and my mom then. It is possible that she still has her parents and they are healthy and active even though they are getting older. Today, I thought I’d share about staying healthy during the “golden years”

My mother will be 87 in June and struggles daily with her health. After a month-long hospital stay last year after suffering a severe bout of pneumonia, I have seen a marked decline in her vitality ever since. She lives in Canada and my sister, a retired nurse, takes good care of her. However, she lives alone and we all worry if she is getting all the nutrition, social interaction and exercise that she needs.

You may be facing a similar situation with your aging parents or relatives. It can be a long and lonely journey for them as their health continues to deteriorate. It’s important that the seniors in your life receive proper nutrition to help them stay strong, physically and mentally.

You may find them complaining of a lack of appetite or that they just can’t eat like they used to. This is often because their digestive systems lack the proper amount of enzymes and stomach acid needed to properly break down food, particularly protein and raw vegetables. I would recommend encouraging them to eat steamed, sautéed, or stir-fried vegetables, stewed or baked fruits, and easier-to-digest proteins like fish, chicken, turkey, and shellfish. I usually recommend at least 6-8 oz. of protein a day. Adding a digestive enzyme would also be helpful for them. This helps them break down food so they can get nutrients from the food they eat. This digestive aid could also steer them away from always turning to easy-to-digest, nutrient-poor alternatives like pasta and highly-processed breads and pastries. So getting your digestive juices flowing again may be a better way to go.

As we age, our bodies often become sluggish, so elimination can also be a problem. Diet alone doesn’t cause this problem, but medications could also be to blame. It is essential to give them a supplement to help the intestines move regularly. An herbal formula called Triphala works very well to balance the intestines, or 500-1200 mg or magnesium at bedtime is also beneficial. You might suggest that they also try adding more fiber to their diet – bran or a fiber supplement would work well. And there are always the old standbys: plums.

Exercise is good for everyone, even with the increasing limitations your elderly loved one may be experiencing, a little movement is vital. Whether one is bound to a chair, has arthritis, or faces any other physical challenge, there is always something, even small, that can be done. Additionally, for older arthritics there are many “safer” alternative anti-inflammatory supplements compared to the many prescription drugs often found in your medicine cabinet. However, always check if there are any interactions between your medication and the supplements used.

Wonderful new research in the neurosciences is discovering that the human brain actually expands as we age and not the other way around, as we were once led to believe. Just think what we could accomplish with little of that new knowledge: an opportunity to truly change the way we not only see the elderly, but also the way we will age: extraordinary.

Finally, studies have been carried out on the oldest population in the world in Okinawa, Japan. They attribute their healthy aging not to their healthy diet mainly to the sea, or to exercise like Tai Chi or even to good genes. But rather it is due to their social connection with others. It seems that staying connected is so vital to longevity. When we think of the many seniors who consider themselves “closeted,” it would be a wonderful idea to encourage them to get involved with others: family, new and old friends, and community churches and synagogues. Not only will this increase your peace of mind, it will promote a long and healthy life.

But what if we even get them interested in the Internet? Why not? There are so many social media resources online these days that yes, even your elderly parent might be interested. Over the weekend, I just saw a news report about a group called “Young At Heart”. They’re a group of older people who are traveling around the country singing, not country, classical, or folk songs, but rock and roll, and no, not Elvis Presley, but how about Led Zepplin or the Stones? And they are loving. each minute.

Again, “you get old when you stop trying no matter how old you are.” So keep pushing and stay ACTIVE, physically, mentally and spiritually.