Keeping your immune system healthy is important no matter your age. However, for the elderly, immunity support can be the difference between a mild cold and a trip to the hospital. In this post, we will be covering some key ways for seniors to give their immune systems a boost; so read on for this valuable information!

Get Good Sleep

Sleep is the time when our bodies do the most work on healing our bodies, fighting pathogens, and distributing nutrients. However, without enough sleep, this process can be interrupted and greatly reduce the benefits of a full rest. So how many hours of sleep do seniors need? The answer is this: ages 50-60 need 7+ hours of sleep, ages 61-64 need 7-9 hours of sleep, and ages 65 and up need 7-8 hours of sleep per night. So make sure you are getting the right amount of sleep for your age; and figure out a routine that allows you to get all your rest—even if you live in an assisted living community.

(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html)

Try Prebiotics

If you consistently take antibiotics, chances are your body’s microbiome could be off balance. Your microbiome is found in your gut, and is made up of all the bacteria that lives there and helps (or doesn’t) your body function properly. Think of it like a garden for this example. A healthy microbiome is full of blooming and beautiful, helpful plants. However, antibiotics can often kill the entire garden and allow anything else to grow in its place. Probiotics are a popular nutrient because they help already healthy microbiomes to thrive; so they don’t really help after antibiotics. This is where prebiotics come in! Prebiotics help the good plants grow, and do the weeding for you too. They help restore balance in your gut microbiome, so that your good bacteria thrives, and the bad bacteria doesn’t. This is vital because your microbiome impacts your immune system so heavily, that an unhealthy microbiome can weaken your immune system completely.

(Sources: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01830/full | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27231050/)

Stay Hydrated

Water is life to your body! We are all 70% water, and water is something we absolutely need to consume to live. Without proper hydration, the body’s systems slow down and weaken—including your immune system. However, not everyone even knows how much water they should be drinking. So here’s a quick trick: drink at least half your weight in ounces every day. For example, if you weighed 100 pounds, you would need at least 50 ounces of water per day. If you are in assisted living in Phoenix, talk to someone about helping you keep up with your daily water intake, so that you can support your immune system.

(Source: https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/wellness/how-to-calculate-how-much-water-you-should-drink)

Our mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living Phoenix, AZ has to offer. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Arcadia provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.