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Quality of life can have a significant impact on a senior’s physical, mental, social, and emotional health. The World Health Organization defines quality of life as someone’s “perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.”1
In other words, a person’s quality of life is a subjective thing. Someone might seem to be in a terrible position but they could see their quality of life as absolutely wonderful, while someone else who seems to “have it all” might be miserable and see their quality of life as being questionable at best.
As a caregiver, providing your loved one with a better quality of life can become a powerful goal. A more positive view of life brings many benefits, including better sleep and appetite, more energy, less stress, and even a lower risk of cognitive decline. Studies have found that those who perceive a higher quality of life tend to live longer and stay healthier.
These tips can help you create a better quality of life for the senior you love.
1. Keep Them Safe
Feeling safe and secure will improve quality of life for anyone, no matter their age. But it becomes even more important when they can’t find that safety and security on their own. Someone who has difficulty with mobility, for instance, might wonder how they will get help if something goes wrong. That fear can settle in the back of their mind and lead to worry that undermines their confidence.
An alert system for elderly adults is a great way to alleviate some of that fear. In any circumstance, they can reach for help at any time, day or night.
Look for ways to create a safer day-to-day life. In addition to a medical alert device, consider aging in place home modifications that allow them to keep a measure of independence (and make life easier on you too). Grab bars in the bathroom, bed rails that make them feel secure at night, good lighting throughout the home, and non-skid tape on the stairs can all help. If you have a bit more of a budget, consider other options like walk-in tubs, roll-out shelves, and non-skid flooring throughout the house.
Remember that every fall or injury can take away another layer of independence. Avoiding anything that could make their golden years harder is the goal.
2. Recognize and Treat Depression
There are many life changes that can lead to depression, and those changes seem to accelerate as we get older. Retiring from a life-long job, losing a spouse, new health struggles, chronic conditions, and even the side effects of medications can lead to a down-in-the-dumps feeling that persists no matter what you try. One of the most significant factors in depression is a loss of independence, which many seniors experience as they age.
Medline defines depression as “a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with daily life for weeks or longer.”2 It’s perfectly normal to feel sad or upset about various life changes – we all go through an adjustment period when things change, no matter how old we are. But if those negative feelings last for several weeks or more, and tend to crowd out the good things in life, that’s a warning sign of depression.
Unfortunately, depression is often seen as a “normal” part of aging. And because of that, depression in the elderly is rarely recognized for the serious situation it is, and it’s just as rarely treated.
If you see any of these symptoms in your loved one, get in touch with their doctor:
· Lack of interest in things that they used to enjoy
· Anxiety (either new or worsening)
· Concentration and memory issues
· Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or shame
· Lack of motivation
· Weight gain or weight loss for no apparent reason
· Emotional numbness
· Problems with sleeping
· Constipation and other digestive issues
· Suicidal thoughts
If you’re told that these symptoms are “normal,” recognize that they’re not. It’s time to advocate for your loved one and get in touch with a different medical health professional who takes the issue seriously.
3. Show Them How Useful They Are
Depression can often stem from feeling unneeded. When an elderly person begins to lose their independence, they can feel more like a burden than an asset.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure they are engaged around the house and doing all the things that they can do. Even someone who has lost a great deal of mobility can still do all sorts of things that make life easier. Here are a few examples:
· Opening and organizing mail
· Folding laundry and organizing it in drawers
· Making grocery lists and clipping coupons
· Helping prepare meals
· Shopping for groceries and household necessities online
· Reporting on the day’s news at the dinner table
· Going out with you to run errands
· Pulling weeds in the garden
· Reading a book to the grandkids
Ask them what they would like to do to help around the house and adapt your suggestions to fit what their body still allows them to do. Feeling useful brings satisfaction.
4. Keep Them Social and Active
Loneliness and social isolation can be deadly. If that seems like a stretch, consider this: The CDC points out that the effects of social isolation on seniors and the elderly can rival the negative effects of obesity and smoking. Social isolation is also linked to a 50% increase in the risk of dementia, a 29% increased risk of heart disease, and a 32% increase in the risk of a stroke.3
One in every four older adults is considered socially isolated, so it’s certainly a widespread problem.
Having family around in the same household isn’t the same as being socially active. Getting out of the house to see friends and family, making new acquaintances, and engaging in fun activities can work wonders for everything about a person, from their mood to their appetite.
Here are some good options to consider:
· Take them to events at the local community center or senior center.
· Help them volunteer at their local church or charitable organizations.
· Arrange transportation for them so they can go out when they want, where they want.
· Make it easy for them to attend big events, including weddings, graduations, and the like.
· Help them find a hobby that gets them out of the house and connects them with others.
· Look for online support groups that can give them others to talk with from the comfort of home.
· If they can’t leave the house often, arrange for family and friends to visit them regularly.
Ask them what they would like to do, what they miss, and what they feel capable of handling at this point in their life. Then brainstorm ways to get more social enrichment for them.
5. Pay Attention to the Aches and Pains
As we get older, our bodies complain more and more about the little things. Those small aches and pains can add up and unfortunately, it can be very easy to simply say “that’s how life is now” and try to cope with it all. But that can lead to even further pain, depression, and a desire to simply stay home, which then leads to social isolation.
If your loved one mentions that something hurts, pay attention. You would always pay attention to acute pain and get them to the doctor right away, but chronic pain deserves to be treated as well. Speak to their doctor about what they are feeling and advocate for medication, physical therapy, or other options to ease their pain and give them a more comfortable life.
Even gentle physical activity can release the feel-good hormones that help alleviate the small aches and pains that come along with aging. Perhaps exercise for an elderly person doesn’t look like it did when they were younger, but it still matters just as much.
Things like chair exercises and gentle stretching are good places to begin. For those who have more mobility, consider introducing them to water aerobics, tai chi, walking in the neighborhood, and other exercises that are easy on the joints.
No matter the exercise they choose – even if it it’s in the comfort of home – a medical alert pendant can provide peace of mind. This not only serves as a salve for their mental health, but for yours as well! You can be rest assured that someone is on the other end of the line, around the clock, if they ever need to call for help.
6. Engage Their Mind
Mental stimulation keeps the mind sharp and that improves overall well-being. While talking to senior loved ones throughout the day can help, it’s important to provide specific activities that stretch and challenge their mental skills.
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, reading, and brain games are the usual suggestions, but there are other ways to keep their minds sharp and active. Here are a few ideas:
· Help them create a scavenger hunt for the grandkids.
· Ask them to write down memories in a notebook, or to record them on audio.
· Play various board games that test their knowledge, such as trivial pursuit.
· Ask them about specific memories, such as of a certain person or place.
· Choose arts and crafts that reflect something about their life and help them with the project.
· Watch TV shows that expand their brainpower. Jeopardy is an excellent choice.
· Play their favorite music and then introduce something similar to see if they like that, too.
As you find unique ways to keep their mind sharp, remember that peace of mind can work wonders for allowing them to truly focus, thrive, and grow. An emergency button alarm from Alert1 can be their constant companion, there to provide safety for them at all times, even when you’re not around. Look for an affordable medical alert device with fall detection, as this will provide another layer of protection that makes both of you feel more secure and surely improve their quality of life.
