We will all grow old at some point in our lives, and when we do, we want to be as happy as we can be. But while we’re still young, we should also strive to give our elderly the happiness that they deserve during the later years of their life. In fact, Australians believe that happiness is integral to a well-lived life for seniors.
But how exactly can you give the best quality of life to your elderly loved ones?
Find Ways to Keep Them Healthy
A healthy senior is a happy one, so they say. If you want your elderly loved one to enjoy the best years of her life, make sure to stay on top of her health. If she is already suffering from a medical condition, make sure that she’s up to date with checkups and medications. Of course, it’s also very important for your elderly to eat a well-balanced diet and maintain proper hydration. You should also make sure that she stays active through exercise and activities that she can do safely and with proper supervision. And if the time comes when your loved one requires round-the-clock care or her illness makes it unsafe to be in your home alone, then you should consider one of the trusted residential aged care homes in your area.
Give Them a Sense of Purpose
One of the biggest fears of seniors during their retirement years is losing that sense of purpose because they don’t provide for the family anymore, and they’re not capable of doing the things they used to do. This is why it’s very important to give your loved one a sense of purpose by including her in conversations and decisions, asking for her input and allowing her to do things that she’s still capable of doing. When you involve these seniors in the day-to-day, it gives them a sense of fulfillment, and they’ll also feel respected and valued.
Be Mindful of the Signs of Depression
Depression is not uncommon in seniors, mainly because of that huge change that they experience after retirement. The frustrations of being sick, the pain of losing a spouse or family member, and the sadness that comes from not being able to work anymore can all affect an elderly’s mental health. This is why it’s very important to be mindful of the signs of depression and address them before things get worse.
When an elderly is depressed, she usually loses interest in a lot of things, feels tired and irritable, isolates herself and has a hard time sleeping and focusing on even the simplest tasks. If you notice any of these signs, make sure to have your loved one checked out right away. It’s also very important to provide adequate emotional support and love to your elderly, so she doesn’t feel isolated and depressed.
At the end of the day, giving our elderly the quality of life that they deserve should be our mission because they were the ones who made sure we enjoyed our lives too.
