How to Improve Your Senior’s Quality of Life
By Jeremy Grant
Owner of Home Instead Hamilton
What do you consider a ‘good’ life? Each season of life looks different. It might mean getting a great job and buying things they want for younger people. For the middle-aged, it’s watching being engaged with their kids’ lives and having a fulfilling career. Senior citizens look at things differently. They have years under their belts. They also see how time takes away some mobility and replaces it with aches and arthritis. When aches and pains stop them from doing what they enjoy, their quality of life declines. For them, a better quality of life may mean being able to contribute to society and enjoying their families. You can help them regain energy and control back in their lives, and a senior caregiver is an excellent choice to make it happen.
6 Ways to Improve the Quality of Life for Elderly Adults
Your loved one may need some help to ensure they have a good quality of life that lets them do what they want to do. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Watch for and Treat Depression: Loneliness and loss of friends and spouses can leave your mom or dad depressed. Medical disease or medication side effects may bring it on as well. If you notice signs of depression in your loved one, help them get it treated.
- Interact with Them as Much as Possible: Look for ways to engage with your dad or mom. You might have a regular Wednesday night meal or a Saturday game night. Not only are you sharing precious time together, but you are also able to keep an eye on how they are doing.
- Ask for Help with Cooking, Laundry, or Other Duties: Lack of feeling useful can be frustrating. By asking for assistance, you let Mom know that she is still useful. Additionally, when you do these things together, it bolsters your relationship.
- Have a Good Clear Out: Clutter causes feelings of overwhelm. Help Dad clean out the garage so that he can get his car in it. Assist Mom with cleaning out the closets. The removal of clutter will lighten the mood for you both. It also makes things a little safer.
- Encourage Them to Stay Physically and Mentally Active: Exercise boosts the immune system, while puzzles help with cognition. Both can significantly contribute to giving your loved one a better quality of life and overall wellbeing.
- Plan Outings: It’s good to get out of the house. Ensure you parent gets out for birthday parties, trips to the museum, or to volunteer at their church. As an older person, the opportunities may be fewer, but they do exist!
Better Quality of Life Begins with Superb Caregiving
You can do many things to help your aging mother or father improve their lives. Yet, you cannot be everywhere at once. When you have a career and children to care for, you need assistance with your senior. A trained personal support worker from Home Instead Hamilton is the perfect answer. We tailor our home care services to fit your loved one’s needs. Our CAREGivers can help with cooking delicious and healthy meals, personal care, companionship, medication reminders and more. Learn more when you contact us today.
Call us at (905) 521-5500 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver, every day, to families in Hamilton Mountain, Downtown Hamilton, Rosedale, Kings Forest, Binbrook, Meadowlands, Ancaster, and Dundas.