Life, as are many things, is often not always about quantity so much as it is about quality. Aging seniors often face losses in the quality of their lives well before they face the end of their days. It’s not enough just to see to their medical needs. We must also see to their mental and emotional needs in order to help them have a positive view of life.
In fact, a positive view of life can help alleviate some of the medical issues that seniors face such as cognitive decline and stress, lack of energy and appetite. Below are five tips you can use to help improve your aging senior’s quality of life.
1. Monitor and Treat Depression.
Millions of seniors age 65+ are affected by depression. The cause can be a single trigger like losing a spouse, being unable to stay in their own home any longer, or retirement. Medical triggers can come from disease or even medication.
Speak with your doctor and get familiar with the signs of depression. If you notice warning signs, seek medical treatment for your senior.
2. Remind Seniors That They Are Useful and Needed.
People of all ages want to feel needed. Being useful is a reinforcement that they are needed. Find ways to make your senior feel useful and needed. A great fear among the elderly is that of becoming a burden. Feeling like a contributing member of the household helps to alleviate that fear. Find ways to make them feel wanted.
Ask seniors for help with tasks appropriate for their abilities. Ask for help to fold laundry (If it’s all folded, sneak to the linen closet, unfold towels, etc., and toss them into a clothes basket). They can clip coupons and make grocery or shopping lists, or have them tell you the latest stories on the news. Ask for help to prep food for cooking. Ask for their company while running errands.
3. Encourage Physical Activity.
Try to encourage some regular physical activity. Walking, physical therapy exercises, even clapping hands to music all stimulate blood flow, relieve stress and anxiety, and encourage heart health. Exercise also improves the quality of sleep, builds stamina, and can relieve depression.
4. Help them feel useful and needed
From the very young to the very old, everyone wants to be useful. When you care for an older adult, do your best to make them feel like you still need their help and that they’re not a burden. Even if they can’t do these tasks efficiently or perfectly, that’s ok. What’s important is that they’re contributing.Ask for help with tasks they can handle, such as:
- Folding laundry
- Organizing drawers
- Opening the mail
- Writing grocery or household to-do lists
- Clipping coupons
- Keeping you up to date on the news
- Prepping dinner – for example, trimming vegetables
- Going with you to help shop for groceries or run other errands
5.Encourage regular physical activity
Regular physical activity, no matter how gentle, helps keeps both body and mind feeling balanced and positive.
Physically, exercise boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep quality, improves heart health, relieves anxiety, improves strength and stamina, and more.
6.Keep them mentally active
Crossword puzzles, sudoku, other brain games, reading, and writing are all great activities for mental stimulation.
Having a sharp and active mind improves overall well-being.
7.Help them stay connected with family, friends, and community
Seniors who are isolated and lonely have shorter lives and are at greater risk for dementia.
Prevent that by encouraging and helping your older adult stay connected with their community.
Some suggestions:
- Arrange for family and friends to visit, eat with, or take them out regularly
- Arrange transportation so they can go to senior centers
- Encourage them to attend any parties – birthday, graduation, holiday, etc.
- Get them involved in a hobby
- Encourage them to volunteer with church, community, or charity organizations
Reference: Daily caring Magazine, American society on aging, trustworthy-care.