collaborative post | As our parents age, we want to make sure they are as happy, healthy and comfortable as possible. We might worry about doing what’s best for them, so here’s a helpful guide from Multicare Mobility on how we can optimise the emotional and physical wellbeing of an ageing relative.
Diet
Whether you are preparing meals or doing the weekly grocery shop, making sure that your ageing relative is eating regular nutritious meals can really help their wellbeing and health.
Making sure they have access to a variety of different food groups will help them feel well in themselves as well as assist in managing weight and many of those common diseases in old age such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Exercise
Although it’s perfectly reasonable that energy and exercise levels may not be what they were in their prime, maintaining some form of light exercise in later life is very beneficial.
Not only will it prevent stiffness and muscle loss, but the endorphins from a gentle workout can help boost mood and give an overall more positive outlook on life. The NHS has some great resources and guidelines for suitable exercise for older adults.
Independent Living
As people get older, their mobility may decrease to the point where they need a bit more help getting around their home. It can be quite demoralising for an elderly relative to start feeling dependent on others to get around or perform basic tasks.
In order to help your relative maintain as much independence as possible, it might be worth looking for modifications you can make to the home.
For instance, getting a stairlift or domestic lift installed will enable your relative to keep using both floors of their home safely. Other changes might include adding a support rail to the bathroom, or even something as small as changing the handles on drawers to something easier to open for arthritic hands etc.
Community
Whilst it is empowering for elderly people to feel independent and self sufficient, it is also important to remember that people are meant to be social beings.
Due to many factors such as lowered mobility and retirement, many elderly people experience loneliness. Feeling isolated can lead to low mental health and depression so ensuring an older relative has some form of social outlet is very important to their wellbeing.
It could be a case of dropping in to visit them for a cup of tea more often if possible, even seeing if there’s a support group nearby or other local community activities to encourage them to get involved with, perhaps they could volunteer.
Even making use of technology and video calling more often if you’re unable to visit can make a difference.
Hobbies
Ensuring that your elderly relative has a hobby to keep them engaged, entertained and preoccupied can help reduce boredom, which will help their mental wellbeing. Perhaps you can encourage them to keep going with an existing hobby enjoyed throughout prime, or pick up something new. Great ideas for hobbies include
- Light Gardening or Vegetable Growing
- Craft hobbies such as sewing, knitting or crocheting
- Drawing or Painting
- Baking
- Reading or Studying something they are passionate about
- Board Games, Puzzles and Jigsaws
- Model Building
- Plus many more
In conclusion, together, these elements can help optimise the emotional, mental and physical wellbeing of an ageing or elderly relative.
