While many people dread the aging process, there are many things you can do to slow the aging process, maintain a high quality of life, and age with grace and beauty. Here are nine key healthy habits for seniors.

1. Stay Active

Staying as active as you can for as long as you can is one of the healthiest habits for seniors. Once your body gets accustomed to not having to move a lot, it will get significantly harder to get it in motion again. Something as simple as walking every day can have an enormous positive impact on your health and quality of life. Even if you move to an assisted living facility, they provide ample opportunities for residents to stay active and stay social.

2. Eat Healthy Foods

Although this is true at any age, eating healthy is particularly important the older you get. Your body does not process food as easily as it did when you were younger, so the more processed foods you eat, the more health problems you may experience. It is best to eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat proteins, and simple carbohydrates.

3. Avoid Smoking

Similar to eating healthy food, not smoking is a healthy habit regardless of age. In addition to negatively impacting your overall health, heart, and lungs, smoking or being exposed to cigarette smoke regularly can cause rapid aging. Your skin, teeth, and nails will show the impact of smoking throughout your life. It is vital to not only quit smoking if you are a smoker, but to avoid being exposed to second-hand smoke as much as possible.

4. Meditate

Meditation has been used for centuries to bring calm and inner peace. It is a highly effective way to reduce stress and anxiety. You can use it to bring focus and purpose to each day. You can combine mediation with low-impact physical activity by doing Tai Chi, which is a very healthy habit for seniors to adopt.

5. Stay close to family and friends

Seniors are at a high risk of isolation and depression. It is critical to overall health to stay close to family and friends. You can stay connected through phone calls, video chats, letters, visits, and outings. There are no limitations on how you stay connected with the people you love.

6. Make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage

Having sufficient health insurance is as vital as you age. When you live on a fixed income, unexpected medical bills can be financially devastating. Make sure your insurance covers expenses other than doctor's visits and blood tests. For example, you want to make sure your insurance has ambulance coverage, so you aren't saddled with medical debt following an emergency. If you aren't sure about your current insure

ance, you can find the best health insurance for you with iSelect.

7. Drink plenty of water

Dehydration can cause a vast array of problems that can also exacerbate other health and mobility problems. Drinking plenty of water is vital for your overall health and wellness. Getting in the habit of drinking eight cups of water a day is a valuable, healthy habit for seniors.

8. Stay out of the hospital as much as possible

Going to the hospital is often unavoidable. However, staying out of the hospital as much as you can is a healthy habit for seniors. The decreased mobility and exposure to germs is significant, so even if your insurance will pay for extra days in the hospital, you are better off recovering at home, if possible.

9. Stay engaged mentally with activities

Just like your body can get stiff if you don't use it, so can your mind. It is crucial to stay mentally active by reading, doing puzzles, playing games, and engaging with other people. Staying mentally active will enable you to maintain a higher quality of lie as you age.