10 Healthy Tips for Living Alone After 60
Staying healthy is important, especially as we age. For older adults who live alone, this rings even more true. In fact, a healthy lifestyle just might be the key to aging in place!
How many older adults live alone?
A lot of single young people live by themselves. But how many older adults live alone? According to a 2023 survey, 28% of seniors aged 65 and older live alone in the United States. This means that roughly 16 million older adults live by themselves. While some older adults choose an independent lifestyle, others live alone due to circumstances beyond their control, such as:
- Divorce
- No children
- No living family or family living within a reasonable distance
- Their spouse passed away
Whether you’re alone by choice or circumstance, you can still have a full, happy life. Here’s how!
1. Get a good night’s sleep.
Older adults need roughly 7-9 hours of sleep per night to feel their best. Of course, every person has different sleep needs, but if you find yourself overly dependent on your coffee pot, you might need more rest. Not getting enough sleep can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
2. Get regular exercise.
Whether you hate exercising or look forward to your daily sweat session at the gym, exercise is important! Not only can it reduce blood pressure, but it also reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones! And don’t forget about the emotional benefits! A 2023 study even showed that muscle mass might be linked to longevity! So, if you want to live long and prosper, grab some weights and do a little strength training.
3. Fine-tune your diet.
Most of us would rather have a slice of cake than an apple. While occasionally enjoying a forkful of chocolatey, melt-in-your-mouth goodness is perfectly okay, make sure you’re eating your fruits and veggies, too! Older adults need to get enough nutrients. Try to include more whole grains, like oatmeal and brown rice, in your diet. Seafood and eggs are a healthy source of protein, too! The more protein you get, the easier it is to build (and maintain) muscle, so pair this tip with the previous one!
4. Stay socially active.
Exercising and eating right are only half of the health equation. If you’re lonely or depressed, it doesn’t matter how many miles you walk or how many apples you consume. You simply won’t be at your healthiest! In fact, social isolation may increase your blood pressure, raise your cholesterol, and even lead to cognitive decline. (Yes, really!) So, make it a point to socialize with your friends and family regularly. If you can’t get out, use the internet and reach out to friends via messaging apps or FaceTime. Don’t ever let yourself become isolated!
5. Schedule regular check-ups.
You may feel like you’re in perfect health, but there’s nothing wrong with preventative care. Not only can regular check-ups help you stay on top of your health, but lab tests can help you catch a problem before it starts. In other words: Get in contact with your physician sooner rather than later. And don’t just call your doctor―make sure you schedule dentist appointments, too! According to one study, older adults with poor dental health were more likely to develop dementia than those without. So, brush your teeth at least twice a day and don’t forget to floss!
6. Keep your house clean.
We’ve all let it happen. Dishes pile up in the sink. Laundry overflows from the hamper. Dishes never make their way back to the cupboard, and before you know it, clutter has overrun your entire house. However, living in a cluttered space can be detrimental to both our mental and physical health. Not only does clutter put you at greater risk for falls, but it can also raise your stress levels! So, don’t let yourself get acquainted with all the dust bunnies and cobwebs. Take care of them! If you can’t do it alone, ask your friends or loved ones for a little assistance. You can also hire a cleaning service, too!
7. Get a pet.
Whether you’re a cat person, a dog person, or maybe even a snake person, pets truly do bring a lot of joy and companionship to our lives. Studies have shown that pets reduce stress and create a sense of purpose. Not to mention, they may also encourage physical activity! Dogs can also make you feel safer, especially if you live in a more rural area. And while smaller pets like rabbits and gerbils probably aren’t the best guard animals, they can make you happy!
8. Have a schedule.
When you worked, you had your day planned by the minute. You got up, drank coffee, drove to work, did your job, and came home to more routines. Likewise, if you were a stay-at-home mom or dad, you also had a schedule formed around your kids and household duties. However, as we age, we may feel adrift. The solution? Create a schedule! Whether your schedule is light or packed to the brim, it’s important to make daily goals…and to strive to meet them!
9. Make your home aging-in-place friendly.
If you’re an older adult who wants to get the most out of independent living, then make sure your home is a safe haven for aging in place! Simple tweaks, like adding grab bars to the shower or installing a home security system, can make your home a thousand times safer. And don’t forget to make a disaster preparedness plan! Make sure you have emergency contacts and even a disaster kit. This last tip may be especially important for seniors who live in areas that are prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, and flash floods.
10. Pursue your hobbies.
We can always nourish our bodies, lock all the doors, and spend time with our friends to stay healthy. But you should also make sure that you’re doing the things that make you happy! So, pursue your passions! Do you love watching birds? Then get a pair of binoculars and visit your local park (or your backyard). Does painting make your heart sing? Then grab a blank canvas, some paint, and let your imagination run wild. Don’t have a hobby? That’s okay! Now is the perfect time to find one. It’s never too late to take up creative writing or even learn a new language. Consider joining a book club or other social group. You can even find online communities full of like-minded people who share your interests! If you need more ideas on low-cost hobbies for older adults, click HERE to read our article on just that!
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Originally published April 29, 2025
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