Living isn’t just about breathing. There’s a clear difference between actually living and surviving. A good quality of life is more than just fulfilling your basic needs. Older adults have the most trouble with this, especially those who possess chronic health conditions. Their quality of life tends to decline as they get older and are unable to satisfy their emotional and mental needs. If you have an older adult in your life whose quality of life you want to improve, the best way to have these needs met is to consider assisted living homes, but there are still plenty of things you can do for them. The following are just some suggestions.
Make them feel needed and necessary
Nobody wants to feel like they don’t have anything to offer anyone. When caring for an older adult, it’s important to let them know that you still need them around and they aren’t a burden to you. While they may not be able to do things as quickly or efficiently as before, what matters most is that they can still help out. Some simple tasks you can ask them to do include crafting a grocery list, folding laundry, simple dinner preparations, or keeping you informed about the news.
Stimulate mental activity
Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. Seniors, in particular, need mental stimulation in order to boost their mood, enhance their overall well-being, and retain or improve cognitive functions. Sudoku, video games, creative writing, crossword puzzles, and reading are all great activities that can help your loved one keep their mental faculties sharp and engaged.
Stay in touch
There are plenty of factors that make it difficult for seniors to engage in social interaction with other people. This can make them feel incredibly lonely and depressed which could lead to Alzheimer’s, dementia, and shorter life spans. Make sure you keep in touch with your loved one if you don’t live with them or near them, and ensure that they’re getting regular visits from friends, family, and the rest of their community.
Provide opportunities for physical activity
Regular physical activity is necessary if you want to keep an older adult in your life fit and happy. Simple activities like walking, dancing, and stretching can help relieve stress, depression, and anxiety, stimulate blood circulation, build up their immune system and stamina, and improve overall health. You could even arrange for them to attend group classes with other seniors so they can find opportunities to socialize.
Keep your home organized
If you live with an elderly loved one, you need to make sure that they can navigate your home safely. The same applies if they live in their own home. As much as possible, keep everything organized and tidy to minimize any fall risks. There are also specialized safety companies you can hire who can do a safety assessment to eliminate any hazards in the home.
Make financial management easy for them
It’s more difficult for elderly adults to manage their finances, especially since the majority of them are retired. When it comes to paying bills, you can set-up automated systems with their bank to do the job for them so they have nothing to worry about. You can also agree to arrange a weekly or monthly budget for them so they don’t have to feel overwhelmed about money matters.
Ensure that the older adult in your life is getting the great quality of life that they deserve by making use of these helpful and practical tips.
