Your seniors are an essential part of your family and community. They impart knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation and help guide them. Moreover, they can help remind you of the values and traditions you should live by daily.
Getting older is an essential part of life. However, the changes that occur can be scary, and your seniors may be affected emotionally and health-wise. They may suffer from problems with mobility and become unable to perform their everyday duties. At such times, they’ll lean on you for support, care, and assistance. Therefore, to keep your seniors happy and healthy, the following are some practices you should consider:
- Prioritize Their Health
Seniors’ immunity is compromised, so they quickly get sick. However, you can keep them in perfect shape by prioritizing their health. You can do this by enlisting the help of a reputable health center like OneSource Home Health that can provide high-quality care. They can watch over your seniors, especially when you have a busy schedule.
Also, it’d be best if you outfitted your seniors’ home. Falling is a significant risk and issue for older adults who live independently, sometimes resulting in hospitalization. You can help address such issues by evaluating their home and making adjustments to keep them safe. You can remove trip hazards, like clutter and loose rugs. You can also install grab bars and handrails, buy a raised toilet seat, and change the lighting to illuminate high-traffic areas.
Furthermore, it’s ideal for making changes based on your seniors’ medical conditions. For example, if they have Alzheimer’s, you can invest in technologies like stove monitors and door sensors to ensure their safety.
- Give Them Tasks
During their golden years, most people get bored, sick, and even depressed because they can’t be as active as before. This makes them feel overwhelmed, incompetent, and, worse, useless. You can make them happy and less stressed by giving them light activities.
Include them in daily routines and less strenuous tasks. This would make them feel valued and appreciated, giving them a sense of purpose.
Having an active life benefits older adults in the following ways:
- Makes them less depressed and happier
- Promotes better sleep
- Makes them less likely to acquire diseases
- Prolongs their lifespan
- Improves their social wellness
- Improves their thinking abilities
- Boosts heart and cardiovascular health
There are various ways your seniors can keep themselves active. You can begin with things they already enjoy doing at home.
- Make Plans For Transportation
Older adults still have to run errands and attend appointments. Based on their abilities, you need to arrange transportation during these events. Apart from the routines, they may need to attend social events and hobby sessions. Also, if they can and still drive, you should get them a reliable car. If they can’t, you should consider getting them a chauffeur.
- Keep Them Physically Active
Physical activities are essential for the general health of seniors. Keeping them active reduces the risk of heart attacks and lifestyle diseases, improves their balance, and manages excess weight. Physical activities are immune boosters but don’t have to be strenuous; low-impact ones will do.
The following are some of the physical activities your seniors may consider:
- Biking
- Dancing
- Swimming
- Walking
- Low-impact aerobics
- Chair yoga
- Pilates
Some seniors may be reluctant to do physical activities, so you need to motivate and encourage them. Explain how the exercises will improve their overall health and reduce their risk of accidents. Furthermore, you can create a schedule that’d be easy for them to follow. For example, you can have them exercise in the morning, evening, or any other time that’s convenient for them.
- Look After Their Appearance
You should pay attention to the appearance of an older adult. Looking good makes them feel amazing and builds their self-confidence. You can help them get quality products they can use for their skin at their age. Also, you can encourage them to put on new clothes and make themselves as stylish as when they’re younger.
Furthermore, you can take them to the salon or the barber for a haircut or treatment. On the one hand, if your senior smokes, their teeth are most likely stained. So, you can accompany them to a dentist to have their teeth whitened.
- Give Them A Balanced Diet
Older adults need to get the nutrition their bodies need to lower any risks of chronic illnesses like heart disease. Thus, a healthy diet rich in fiber and low in saturated fat is essential. Furthermore, you can give them fruits, vegetables, and lean meats to boost their immune system and protect them from diseases. They’re great sources of antioxidants that protect their cells from damage. On the one hand, limit their consumption of sugary and fatty foods because these can trigger inflammation in the body, lowering their immunity.
Additionally, minimize their alcohol intake. Ask the doctor for directives on safe alcohol levels per week or day. Remember, seniors’ digestive systems don’t work as efficiently as they should, and alcohol can make it worse, causing gastric problems.
- Leverage Technology
Keeping your senior healthy and happy isn’t a walk in the park, especially if you have other responsibilities. With a busy schedule, you might forget to take care of them and even give them medications on time.
Luckily, various technologies are available today to solve some caregiving problems. You can use an app that simplifies the process by updating you on hospital appointments and medication schedules.
The following are some other technologies that could help you in senior care management:
- Automatic medical alerts, such as smartphone applications, voice units, and wearables devices
- Telemedicine for faster monitoring and resolving mendable ailments
- Sensors that can alert you when your seniors moving
Through these innovations, you can build a group of family members, health workers, and friends who can help in caregiving. Generally, these technologies provide convenience and help share responsibilities among different carers.
- Keep Them Socially Active
Social interaction is important for seniors. As people age, it becomes more difficult for them to connect and have friends. You can keep them happy by prioritizing communication and social contact. This will reduce their feelings of loneliness and isolation.
You can start this by scheduling call times with them regularly. Have a reminder on your phone or diary to spend time with them. If you can’t do this, you can get a neighbor, family member, or professional caregiver to offer companionship.
Also, socialization with their peers is important. It’d help if you encouraged your seniors to participate in community groups actively and have regular hangout plans with friends or neighbors. Moreover, despite their mobility issues, teach them technology basics, like video calling and social media, which can help them be in touch with friends and family. You may even get them a smart speaker that responds to prompts, making them feel less lonely at home.
- Join Them In Their Hobbies
One of the best ways to keep seniors happy and stay connected with them is by joining them in their hobbies. Doing so will keep them engaged, boosting their memory and brain function and keeping depression at bay. If they can no longer enjoy their hobbies because of accessibility issues and health reasons, be creative. For example, if they love soccer, you can take them to watch the game.
You can learn a lot about them and even some life lessons by listening to their stories. On the one hand, these interactions make them feel valued.
- Schedule Checkups
Seniors need regular checkups with their dentist, eye doctor, and specialist healthcare providers. They’re an opportunity to catch any health issues on time and treat them before they grow into bigger issues. But, once you make these appointments, you must follow up with your seniors to ensure they show up.
If they have chronic health issues and are under medication, ensure the checkup dates aren’t missed so they can refill their drugs. Also, you can track their progress during these times.
- Focus On Their Mental Health
Taking care of seniors’ mental health issues is a must. Aspects like insomnia, silence, isolation, sleep deprivation, sadness, hopelessness, hearing voices, and talking to oneself shouldn’t be taken lightly. Don’t chalk everything up to old age; sometimes, they may already be suffering mentally.
When such symptoms are left unchecked for a long time, they’ll only worsen. So, you should get your seniors to see a psychologist, counselor, or psychoanalyst who can speak to them and evaluate their mental health. Also, consider enrolling them in group therapy. They’ll benefit from being with other people with whom they can talk about their sufferings, past, future, and fears with the supervision of a psychotherapist.
Conclusion
Aging in place is possible if you consciously keep them happy and healthy. It takes commitment and dedication to make this work. You must ensure they stay in a safe environment, eat a healthy diet, and are always active to stay fit and happy. Apart from the measures stated above, remember to involve everyone in the family and even professionals for greater success.
