In general seniors are considered to be those who have achieved an age of at least 60 to 65 years. With the aging of the baby boomers, this percentage of the population is steadily increasing. In fact, right now people are living longer than ever. These are the reasons it is important that we understand and learn to manage the top 10 concerns of those in their golden years.

Don't have time to read the whole article? There are some great anti-aging tips that help almost all common age-related complaints. In fact, these are the same things we naturopaths are always prattling on about – diet and exercise. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, with balanced levels of healthy fats and protein is essential to maintaining health throughout our lives. Maintaining a steady exercise program with weight-bearing exercise and light cardio like walking or swimming at least five days a week (and preferably seven), has been shown to reduce or eliminate the vast majority of the conditions listed below.

TOP 10 SENIORS CONCERNS

1. MENTAL HEALTH
Some of the most common mental health concerns affecting the elderly are: memory loss, depression, anxiety, dizziness/vertigo, and neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. It is the loss of one's mental capacities that are often the greatest fear of those in their golden years. Having a purpose for living, and happy social life has been shown to give all people, even those with serious medical problems a source of vitality, independent of their age. Although many consider mental decline a natural part of aging, it doesn't have to be. With a few simple changes, keeping your mental capacity is well within your reach. Maintaining a steady level of physical activity is one of the most important, and simple means of regulating healthy levels of all neurotransmitters in the brain, as well as maintaining proper blood circulation in the body. This is a great way to prevent conditions like depression and anxiety, and to prevent memory loss and even dizziness. View our article for particular guidance on how to improve your memory. For treatments of anxiety click here, and for depression, please click here. Alzheimer's disease is a complex condition that is often a major fear of those in their later years. For more information on Alzheimer's disease, please click here. The general prevention and treatment of neurological disorders, and for general maintenance for the health of the nervous system, please click here. Maintaining a consistent level of mental activity is also an integral part of maintaining our mental functioning. The phrase "use it or lose it" really does seem to apply when it comes to mental health. Staying mentally active by doing puzzles, playing though-provoking games, and memory exercises are all great ways to keep thinking. Social interaction, and conversation is a great way to keep your brain active, while boosting your overall health.

2. SOCIAL
There are some extremely important social changes that have occurred over the last few decades. With the advent of social media and superficial internet connectedness, this is actually a time of fewer meaningful social connections and a loss of the importance of extended family. These erosions in the social network of those entering their senior years has created serious impacts on health. Not only is a healthy social life associated with improved mental health, social connectedness is also protective of overall health and wellness. There are difficulties associated with social isolation that go beyond immediate health concerns. Living alone and without support can often be a significant source of financial burden, especially since this is a time of life when people have often retired from their former careers. Often seniors are forced to return to work where they are faced with agism (age discrimination), stereotyping, and often are unable to find meaningful work that can support their financial needs. Because of the social isolation and extreme financial burdens on the elderly are relatively new to our society, there are few safeguards in place, and those seniors unable to meet their needs can often fall through the cracks and become marginalized. This is one of the greatest threats to the safety, health, and well-being of the senior population at the moment. Sometimes simply stepping outside your normal comfort zone, by joining a club, choir, exercise class, or any other social group can significantly improve your health and help to protect it for the future. It's never too late to make new friends!

3. DIGESTION
As we age, many of our digestive functions become less efficient. We cannot produce sufficient stomach acid, which does not allow for the proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, particularly iron and protein. Past the age of 40, most people are deficient in the enzyme responsible for the absorption of vitamin B12 (called intrinsic factor). Getting sufficient protein, iron and B12 in one's diet in our senior years becomes extremely difficult. Some people may benefit from the use of digestive enzyme supports. See more information on digestive enzymes. Most would benefit from protein and vitamin B12 supplementation. For a nice overview of how to improve your digestive health, please click here.

4. INCONTINENCE
Unfortunately, as we age, many of our muscles lose their tensile strength and one of the side effects of this can be incontinence. There are two main types of incontinence: urinary and fecal, based on whether you have difficulty holding urine or stool. Both types can greatly reduce our quality of life, and unfortunately, they can stem from a vast array of different underlying causes. While you seek to understand the source of your problem with the help of your health care practitioner, there are a few simple ways to help reduce your symptoms. No matter which type of incontinence affects your life, Kegel exercises can benefit your symptoms. These exercises are targeted at strengthening the muscles of your pelvic floor to raise your organs off of your bladder and rectum, and tighten their sphincters. For more information on Kegel exercises and ways to treat urinary incontinence, please click here. Fecal incontinence can often be a transient problem due to other underlying conditions such as diarrhea, or prolonged constipation. As we age, it can become more difficult to properly read our body's signals, leading to occasional accidents. Often, simply increasing your intake of soluble fibre can help to regulate stool consistency by softening hard stools, and bulking up diarrhea to promote more regular bowel health. See more information on fibre and alternative ways to treat constipation.

5. WEIGHT GAIN / LOSS
As we age our senses of taste and smell decline, and so seniors tend to eat more flavourful, but less nutritious foods that contain higher levels of salt and sugar. Often as we age, we settle into a routine of simple meals that do not require much work to prepare, such as toast and jam. Both of these types of poor diet can lead to age-related problems, since the body is not receiving proper nutrition for its daily functions. Unfortunately, as of current times, not much can be done to return our sense of smell or taste after they are lost with age. We can, of course, ensure that we eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and work to supplement the nutrients we may be lacking. Adding greens powders can help to provide a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals for those on a previously limited diet.See more information on greens powders. If these dietary recommendations are not sufficient to promote the desired healthy weight loss, please see our Weight Loss Tips article. If there is difficulty eating sufficient amounts, whether because of medication side effects, poor dental health, financial burden, or lack of transportation, one simple dietary addition is a meal replacement shake into the daily routine. See more information on meal replacement powders. Whenever possible, make formal mealtimes with an enjoyable ritual and include other people if you can. Having others around and making meal times special can ensure you eat well, and in the proper amounts for health.

6. SLEEP DISTURBANCES / INSOMNIA
Unfortunately, another series of common complaints frequently associated with aging are sleep interruption and insomnia. These sleep disturbances can have a huge impact on health. Many people find that as they age they cannot get the number of hours of sleep that they need each night. This can be due to a reduction in the secretion of the natural sleep hormone in our brains called melatonin. Supplementation with melatonin can easily help to overcome this deficiency. See more information on melatonin. If you find yourself waking throughout the night to go to the washroom, some simple lifestyle changes, like being sure to avoid drinking water a few hours before sleep may help. If you cannot fall asleep easily, exercising during the day can help to promote healthier sleep. Reducing your stress levels can also help to regulate your sleep schedule. See more information on ways to treat insomnia.

7. PHYSICAL SIGNS OF AGING
There are a wide variety of superficial physical symptoms that we associate with aging. The most common complaints of those entering their golden years are wrinkles and the sagging of skin and certain regions of the body such as the breasts, buttocks, abdomen and upper arms. Although some of the sagging of the skin that occurs as we age is not easily prevented, there are some simple steps that can significantly help. For finer lines and wrinkles, please see our Skin Health article. The larger sagging skin issues are associated with loss of muscle mass and the loss of the fat layer immediately under the skin. Maintaining a healthy diet with plenty of healthy fat sources and protein, when combined with sufficient muscle-building (anabolic) exercise, the normal healthy muscle mass can be maintained, which can help to prevent sagging skin. For more anti-aging tips, please see our Aging article.

8. EYE & VISION PROBLEMS
Another set of common concerns associated with aging are: degenerative eye diseases and the deterioration of vision over time. After the age of 50 it is normal to have progressive vision loss, and often seniors begin to lose their near-vision first. Other conditions that are commonly associated with aging are glaucoma and cataracts. Although it is difficult to reverse vision loss once it has begun, prevention is possible with the right antioxidants and a healthy diet full of eye-nourishing vitamins and minerals. For more information on ways to protect your eye health, please click here. Be sure to have regular eye exams so any problems can be discovered early on in their progression. Since many eye diseases are actually symptoms of other systemic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, regular physical exams are also extremely important.

9. HEARING LOSS
One of the first things to go as we age is our hearing. Hearing loss is a difficult condition that can interfere with many other life activities, especially personal entertainment and socialization with others. This can lead to social limitations, especially if the sufferer is too proud to ask for help. With all of the noise we experience in today's society with a history of rock concerts and being near heavy machinery, it is no wonder that our hearing is frequently affected. Being sure to protect your hearing in times of excessive noise is an excellent way to help preserve the function of your ears for longer. For more information on ways to protect and improve your hearing, please click here. Do not be afraid to overcome your current concepts surrounding hearing aids, as they are now available in much smaller sizes, and can bring back a part of your life that you thought was gone for good.

10. ARTHRITIS
The stiffening of our joints is another common condition that develops as we age. Seniors are the largest group affected with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These are very different conditions with different causes, but both cause significant joint deterioration, mobility problems and chronic pain. These secondary effects of arthritis make it very limiting to the lives of seniors. Pain and stiffness can restrict our ability to exercise, socialize and even perform simple daily activities like getting around the house, cooking and eating. While osteoarthritis is generally considered to be due to wear-and-tear on the joints, there are a number of different factors involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. For more information on the development and treatment of osteoarthritis, please click here. For rheumatoid arthritis, please click here.

OTHER COMMON CONDITIONS
In addition to the top 10 concerns affecting seniors there are a number of other conditions that should be mentioned. As we age, the risk of acquiring certain diseases increases over time. Because of this, many people over the age of 65 are concerned with conditions such as:

•  Diabetes
•  Cardiovascular disease
•  Osteoporosis
•  Cancer

Because these conditions are covered in full in other sections, please click on the names of the conditions above for more information on each.

When it comes to aging, the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" really applies. Taking the time right now, no matter your age, to feed your body healthy natural foods and to exercise in any way you enjoy can make a huge difference to your future health. Do what you love and enjoy life – the more active you are, the more active you'll stay!