Clover Health Survey Highlights Resolutions by Older Nashvillians
Recently released survey results from Clover Health highlight the most popular New Year's resolutions for Nashville area seniors, namely that 66 percent of local residents 60 and older cite exercising more frequently as one of their top health goals in 2019 while 62 percent resolve to improve their diet.
Nationally, 63 percent of seniors surveyed cited exercising more frequently followed by eating better (60 percent) as their top health goals for the year ahead.
The survey also found that:
- 24 percent of Nashville seniors aim to reduce chronic pain in 2019, while 21 percent would like to increase the ability to get around by themselves.
- Just 7 percent of those 60 and older surveyed in Nashville cited quitting smoking as a top health goal in 2019.
- Visiting the doctor more frequently and quitting drinking were the least common New Year's resolutions, chosen by 5 percent and 1 percent of local seniors, respectively
"We are encouraged to see that the majority of Middle Tennessee seniors are planning to improve their exercise and diet habits heading into 2019," said Clover Health Chief Scientific Officerv Kumar Dharmarajan, MD. "Maintaining good physical fitness and nutrition is especially important for older adults looking to stay healthy and active throughout their golden years."
The vast majority of New Year's resolutions fail by the second week of January, making it important for providers, family members and caregivers to support those trying to make lifestyle changes. Clover Health officials offered tips to help ensure good intentions become healthy habits that stick:
- Prepare meals in advance. It can be overwhelming to figure out and manage the nutrients needed in a healthy diet at dinnertime, which is why it's important to plan meals in advance. Consider preparing a week's worth of dinners to put in the freezer, then pull them out individually as needed.
- Start with simple food substitutions, such as switching out butter or margarine for unsweetened applesauce in baked goods or trying garlic powder instead of salt while cooking to lower sodium intake.
- Incorporate cardio, strength, and mobility training into a weekly exercise routine to achieve maximum benefits. Even Nashville seniors with limited mobility can try chair yoga, light water aerobics, or walking to stay active.
The study from Clover, a healthcare company using technology to improve medical outcomes, was conducted by Wakefield Research of 300 adults age 60 and older in the Nashville area. The national survey was of 1,000 adults 60-plus throughout the country.
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