Top tips for elderly to keep their bones healthy

The elderly are more at risk of slips, trips and falls around the home and when they’re out and about, but the strength of their bones can make a big difference to the effect a fall can have on them.

We recently put together some top tips for the elderly on staying safe at home and avoiding potential accidents, but according to Age UK Cymru, regular weight baring exercise can also help keep bones strong by forcing the bones in the lower half of the body to bear the full weight each time you move.

Activities such as brisk walking, bowls and tennis are great weight-bearing exercises.

The elderly can also keep their bones healthy by eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is what makes the bones strong and vitamin D helps absorb it into the body.

Our main source of vitamin D is from the sun, however it’s not often it’s shining, so eating plenty of salmon, sardines and other oily fish, eggs and fortified spreads are other great ways to get some much-needed vitamin D.

Good sources of calcium include dairy foods, milk, fortified soya and canned fish wish bones. You can also try fortified breakfast cereals, white bread, pulses and almonds.