Health, Healing and Wellness for

Seniors

This presentation was created by Luba Rascheff for InterChurch Health Ministries

(ICHM) Canada.

2016Caveat: The information in this presentation is presented as is, without warranty. You assume any and all risks in acting upon any or all material presented. Thismaterial is not a substitute for recommendations given to you by your physician.By viewing this presentation, you agree not to hold ICHM Canada responsible for your actions based on this presentation.

Health and Wellness

“Health and Wellness are topics of growing interest to seniors who want to look and feel their best. Seniors of today are changing the definition of old age, fuelled in part by exercise, healthy eating and comfortable finances.”

Source: http://www.seniorlivingmag.com/health

Good Health

“As the population ages, there is a growing need for better knowledge of senior health care. Everyone wants to approach old age with good health.”

Source: http://www.seniorlivingmag.com/health

ExerciseThere are different types of exercise that can help seniors stay healthy.

Here are a few examples:

WalkingSwimmingGardeningRiding a bicyclePraying

Walking in nature or gardening is gentle exercise that can helpyou stay healthy.

Photography credit: Luba Rascheff

REGULAR CHECK-UPS & MONITORINGRegular visits to your physician are importantin staying healthy.

Monitoring your blood pressure is somethingyou can do at home. The American HeartAssociation recommends this, but states that itis not a substitute for regular visits to yourphysician.

Source: The American Heart Association, www.heart.org/

Eating Well for Extended Living

What we eat is very important. New researchshows that there are two types of cholesterol:HDL, good, and LDL, bad. This means thatSome fatty foods, like peanut butter, may actually be good for us while others may be bad. What is important is maintaining the nutrients our body needs to feel re-energized and youthful.

See: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol, www.heart.org

Image credit: Shutterstock.

Healthy, life-prolonging foodincludes fish, olive oil, olives,lemons and greens.

Social EngagementBeing part of community enhances wellness.From the innermost circle of close familyand friends, to ever widening circles ofreligious affiliations or clubs, we all need tofeel that we are part of, and contributingtoward, causes that are greater thanourselves.

Image credit: www.sunriseready.com

Feeling WellBeing able to communicate with otherseniors in safe settings engendersfeelings of well-being. We are able toshare our experiences relationally.

Seniors enjoy coffee and conversation. | Image credit: alamy.

See: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/sexuality-aging

Intimacy & SexualityPhysical changes happen during the

agingprocess that can affect our ability to

have satisfying sex lives. The need for

intimacy,however, and/or the expression of

sexuality,does not stop as we age. Intimacy

whichmeans “close familiarity or friendship”

can, but does not necessarily have to, be

sexual.

Image credit: www.familiesforlife.sg

Source: ICHM Handbook & Resource Manual, p. 10.

HealingInterChurch Health Ministries (ICHM) Canada’s belief about healing is

threefold.

1.Spiritual Healing2.Grace to endure illness or infirmity3.Removal of an illness or infirmity

Although our deepest desire may bethe removal of an illness or

infirmity, it does not always happen. This iswhy God’s grace is healing in and ofitself.

Modified image credit: pocketfulofmotherhood.wordpress.com

Prayer “Our prayers for one another are

never to be taken as substitutes for other ways God heals us, such as through proper medical attention.”

Source: ICHM Handbook & Resource Manual, p. 10.

“There is no simple connection between faith and healing. God heals us in many ways by grace, as a free gift. Faith recognizes God at work but does not constitute the single cause of healing. Many people have great faith but are not fully healed of visible infirmities.”

Faith

Source: ICHM Handbook & Resource Manual, p. 10.

Bibliography ICHM Handbook & Resource Manual

For more information about InterChurchHealth Ministries (ICHM) Canada visit:

www.ichm.ca

Photography Credit for background image: “Untitled” by Luba Rascheff.