5 things older Americans should do to stay out of nursing homes, according to a doctor

Three in four Americans aged 50 and older would like to remain in their homes as they age, according to the AARP — and preserving that independence starts with daily habits.Dr.Vonda Wright, a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon, author and authority on active aging and mobility, who is based in Orlando, Florida, said there are three main problems that can make it difficult for older adults to age in place.Those include difficulty getting up from a chair and caring for themselves, memory problems, and incontinence that makes it hard to manage personal hygiene.“The missing piece in most conversations between mental health, physical health and independence is your skeletal longevity,” Wright said.Staying independent with age requires attention to the entire musculoskeletal system, including the muscles, bones and tendons, according to the surgeon.Wright shared the following habits as most important for maintaining independence outside of a nursing home.The human body “craves mobility,” Wright said.“When you think about it, it’s our first skill.

We learn to walk when we’re 1,” she pointed out.For older adults, staying active can help preserve the ability to handle everyday tasks independently.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests low-impact activities such as walking, cycling and water exercise.“Even when your hips hurt, even when your knees hurt, you should move on the ground, or get in a pool in chest-high water,” Wright suggested.While the doctor does not recommend exercising through a new injury or severe pain, she pushed back against the belief that rest is the best way to address pain.“Rest doesn’t cure anything.

When you have, for instance, arthritic knees, do you know what can help? Building the muscles around your knees, building the muscles in your hips to support your knees,” she said.“So rest is not the answer for feeling better — staying strong and mobile is.”Strength training can help older adult...