Are you taking care of a senior and you wanted to improve their life quality? It is not enough just to pay attention to their medical but also their emotional and mental needs so that they can change their negative view of life and turn it into a positive one.
If they do, they’ll be able to reduce their stress and feel relief of some of their issues, such as loss of appetite and reduced energy. Check out the following on how to help improve senior health.
How to Improve Senior Health
There are ways to help your senior have a good life quality. In the following, let’s discuss some tips, such as making him feel needed and adding mental and physical activities into his daily life.
Reassure that they’re valued and useful
Seniors want to know that they’re needed – a kind of reinforcement that can make them feel good. Find ways to make your senior feel he’s useful, not a burden. To alleviate this fear, make him feel that he is contributing to the household.
You can assign them tasks based on their abilities.
For example, ask him to fold the laundry. You can also ask him to make a shopping or grocery list. Additionally, ask him about the latest news or help to prepare food to cook.
Make them feel connected
Seniors are prone to suffering from depression, feeling lonely and isolated especially if they are having mobility issues. If they do feel this way often, they are at high risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Don’t let it happen to your senior by keeping him connected to the community and family.
You can arrange outings or family visits for your senior especially during celebrations like birthdays or weddings. You can also suggest a new hobby or do one together.
Add physical and mental activity into his lifestyle
Even seniors need physical activities or exercises, such as walking and jogging to improve his blood flow and reduce his anxiety or stress. Exercise will also promote his heart health, improve his sleep quality, relieve depression and build stamina.
People of all ages need mental stimulation because it will improve or retain his cognitive function. Mental activities, such as solving puzzles, can promote his brain health. They will also improve his health and well-being.
Some good mental exercises include writing, reading, solving Sudoku and storytelling – all making his mind sharp and alert.
Check on and treat depression
Studies had it seniors at least 65 years of age face depression due to retirement or loss of a spouse. Some of them also suffer from depression due to medication or disease. For help, talk to their doctor about the signs of depression and seek medical help if you notice those.
Seniors can still have a high life quality with your help. Make him feel connected and needed, treat his depression and add physical and mental activities into his life, to name some. With these, you can help him have a longer, happier life!