{"id":903325,"date":"2026-11-02T14:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T14:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/903325\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T14:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T14:58:10","slug":"5-habits-that-could-help-keep-you-out-of-a-nursing-home-from-an-orthopedic-surgeon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/903325\/","title":{"rendered":"5 habits that could help keep you out of a nursing home, from an orthopedic surgeon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three in four Americans aged 50 and older<\/a> would like to remain in their homes as they age, according to the AARP \u2014 and preserving that independence starts with daily habits.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Those include difficulty getting up from a chair and caring for themselves, memory problems<\/a>, and incontinence that makes it hard to manage personal hygiene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe missing piece in most conversations between mental health<\/a>, physical health and independence is your skeletal longevity,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n

Staying independent with age requires attention to the entire musculoskeletal system, including the muscles, bones and tendons, according to the surgeon.<\/p>\n

Wright shared the following habits as most important for maintaining independence outside of a nursing home.<\/p>\n

A senior aqua gym class works out with foam noodles in an outdoor pool on Thursday, August 1, 2019. karelnoppe \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

No. 1: Keep moving<\/p>\n

The human body \u201ccraves mobility,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think about it, it\u2019s our first skill. We learn to walk when we\u2019re 1,\u201d she pointed out.<\/p>\n

For older adults, staying active<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven when your hips hurt, even when your knees hurt, you should move on the ground, or get in a pool in chest-high water,\u201d Wright suggested.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon based in Orlando, Florida, shared habits to help older adults age in place. Kay Abrahams\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cRest doesn\u2019t 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,\u201d she said. \u201cSo rest is not the answer for feeling better \u2014 staying strong and mobile is.\u201d<\/p>\n

No. 2: Build muscle<\/p>\n

Strength training<\/a> can help older adults maintain the ability to get out of a chair, climb stairs and carry groceries \u2014 everyday tasks that support independent living.<\/p>\n

There is never an age or skill level when it\u2019s too late to build muscle, according to Wright.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you feel like you\u2019ve declined or your parents have declined, there is no age or skill level when we can\u2019t become more mobile, when we can\u2019t build muscle or reconnect the neuromuscular pathways,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even possible to build muscle sitting in a wheelchair, she noted. \u201cSome of the very first research done by Dr. Maria Fiatarone at Tufts University showed that even at 90 years old, you can regain function.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no age or skill level when we can\u2019t become more mobile, when we can\u2019t build muscle.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that small 1990 study, nine nursing home residents who completed eight weeks of high-intensity resistance training increased their muscle strength by an average of 174%, and also showed improvements in muscle size and mobility.<\/p>\n

Wright stressed that movement and strength training are crucial to maintain independence and rebuild muscle at any age. NDABCREATIVITY \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

The National Institute on Aging recommends that older adults perform muscle-strengthening activities<\/a> at least two days a week, targeting all major muscle groups, with recovery time between sessions.<\/p>\n

Some options include resistance bands, hand weights and body-weight exercises. Beginners are advised to start gradually and seek guidance from a doctor or physical therapist as needed.<\/p>\n

No. 3: Eat enough to support strength<\/p>\n

Older adults tend to eat less, which can undermine efforts to maintain energy and build muscle, Wright warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something I see even happening to my 86-year-old parents; they\u2019re just eating less and less,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd we cannot fuel the muscle we want to build [and] the energy we need without a protein-forward, adequate-calorie diet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common mistake I see seniors making as they age is assuming that aging is an inevitable decline from vitality to frailty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although older adults may require fewer calories, they still need enough nutrients to support their health, according to the National Institute on Aging.<\/p>\n

She also advised seniors to maintain a protein-forward diet and have open family conversations about necessary support. amazing studio \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

To help maintain muscle, the agency recommends that older adults consume protein-rich foods throughout the day, including seafood, dairy, fortified soy products, beans and lentils. Specific calorie needs will vary based on each person\u2019s weight and activity level.<\/p>\n

No. 4: Drop the mindset that decline is inevitable<\/p>\n

Wright urged older adults to challenge assumptions about what they can and can\u2019t do as they age.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common mistake I see seniors making as they age is assuming that aging is an inevitable decline from vitality to frailty,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just assume that a certain number of birthday candles predisposes them to sitting on a couch the rest of their life. The reality is that there is no age or skill level when you\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wright urged older adults to challenge assumptions about what they can and can\u2019t do as they age. pixs4u \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

No. 5: Have open conversations<\/p>\n

Wright suggested that people should start working toward future independence during their busy working years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to start thinking about that in our busiest times of life, in our 30s, our 40s, our prime times of working,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s part of a long-term, lifetime plan to live where you want to live, with whom you want to live, when you want to live there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doctor recommends that adults directly ask their aging parents what assistance they need and to explore available support, including community programs.<\/p>\n

Wright suggested that people should start working toward future independence during their busy working years. lordn \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

In many cases, she said, parents do not want to be a burden to their adult children, so they never ask for anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is a time for really open, frank conversations,\u201d Wright said. \u201cWhat do you want help with? How can I help you? How could we get help for you if possible?\u201d<\/p>\n

As an example, Wright said her elderly parents live with her family. When she noticed their meals started to suffer while she was traveling, she arranged for support to help them continue managing their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have half of their meals delivered every week because I\u2019m not going to be home to shop or cook,\u201d she said. \u201cThey remain independent, but with assistance. And that\u2019s what works for us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Three in four Americans aged 50 and older would like to remain in their homes as they age,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":903326,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[15654,168714,97,252,253,149,86883],"class_list":["post-903325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health-care","tag-aarp","tag-elderly-care","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-lifestyle","tag-nursing-homes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=903325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/903326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=903325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=903325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=903325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}