It’s hard to watch someone you love get older, and it can be harder still to know how to help them in this transition. Being available for and taking care of senior citizens makes a huge difference in their happiness and quality of life. Here are some things you can do to help improve the lives of the elderly.
Be Proactive
A big problem facing senior citizens is the inability to regularly attend doctors’ appointments. Scheduling regular doctor visits will make it so health issues can be identified, treated, and resolved before they become a larger, potentially life-threatening issue. Offer to schedule and drive someone to an appointment, sit with them in the waiting room, and get them the prescriptions or additional treatments they may need.
Be Aware of the Signs of Depression
Depression is common in the elderly. Being aware of the signs and getting early intervention from a counselor or therapist will help them deal with their own emotions surrounding growing older, losing friends and spouses, and fear of the near-future.
Consider a Meal Delivery Service
Buying groceries and preparing food is a daunting task for senior citizens, and can have a huge effect on their overall health. Senior meal delivery services give them the nutrients they need without any of the stress over meal prep. It makes your life easier too, knowing that they are being fed without you having to check in on them or cook for them.
Help Them Stay Connected
As it gets harder for your loved one to leave the home, make sure they aren’t feeling isolated from their family and friends. Arrange for family dinners, visits from friends, phone calls from long-distance relatives, and birthday cards, emails, or hand-drawn pictures from grandkids. You can also offer to drive them to activities for other people their age, at rec or senior centers.
Give Them Small Jobs
One of the hard parts about growing older is losing a sense of responsibility and dependability. Having a small, easy task to perform helps a senior citizen feel useful and needed. Ask them to help sort mail, write a shopping list, or do easy meal prep.
Engage Their Brain
Keep a senior citizen mentally active and engaged by doing word puzzles, sudoku, chess, and other brain games with them. Reading to them is another great option. If you are unable to be around them, set them up with some audiobooks. Audiobooks are especially helpful for people who are losing their eyesight.
Encourage Exercise
Staying physically active is important not just for physical health, but mental as well. Go for walks, sign them up for senior swimming, or a dance class. Rec centers have lots of options for senior exercise classes. Other lower energy activities could be gardening, raking, or general lawn caretaking. These all get the elderly out of the house and moving, which is the most important part.
With these tips, you are sure to engage with your loved one in a meaningful way and significantly improve their quality of life. It is one of the most profound ways you can give back to those you love and provide them with joy in the last chapters of their life.
