Ageing is an inevitable phase of our life. With age often come certain problems that can affect the physical and mental well-being of an individual. And while these weaknesses cannot be fully eliminated, there are ways to maintain the good health of seniors. Living independently is an important aspect of almost everyone's life. And the elderly are no different.
While living completely independently as they grow old can be a bit difficult, some sort of independence allows them to feel more balanced. Living healthy and independent is important to ensure their mental and physical well-being remains intact. It gives them a sense of individuality and purpose in life. With some support and care, you can make them feel healthy and independent. On this note, here are 5 ways to encourage elderly people around you.
Encouragement for the Elderly
Encouraging the elderly becomes much easier with some support and emotional reassurance. You simply need to shower some love and motivate them regularly. Allow them to be more healthy and independent. This can positively impact their health conditions and life perspective. Here's a list of things you can do to motivate seniors:
Make an Interesting Schedule for Them
Knowing where and how to start is important. Laying a schedule to motivate seniors can be helpful.
- A schedule can list all the activities that seniors can engage in. Such schedules can be made on a weekly as well as monthly basis.
- In addition to simply jotting down all the activities, a routine can also help keep track of the progress. They can let you know what activities were your loved ones involved in, did they enjoyed participating in those exercises, and if that could help in the long run.
- Also, marking progress in schedules can feel like an achievement to the elderly. Fulfilling mini goals can motivate an individual to keep going and working for their big achievements. Thus, you can make a fun schedule for seniors as well.
- This routine can keep track of their day-to-day chores, like medication, outdoor activities, health check-ups, and more.
- Allow them to have fun on some days simply. Relaxing can help them charge themselves.
>> Also Read: A Healthy Diet Plan for Senior Citizens
Plan their Favourite Activities
Sitting alone can make seniors feel lonely and isolated. Thus making it important to engage them in activities they can enjoy. Not only this will reduce their regular stress, but will also give them some sense of independence.
- Participating in different playful activities can keep them entertained and healthy at the same time. It is advisable to start with the activities that they love.
- However, there can be cases where seniors can lose interest even in their favourite activities. In that case, it is normal to be worried about how to encourage the elderly to participate in activities. Pick new activities like planting, walking, and so on.
Healthy Living is the Key
Losing interest in eating and day-to-day exercising is quite common at this age. However, this can take a toll on their health if they are not active or taking a proper diet. Therefore, if you're wondering about how to encourage eating in the elderly, then let us tell you it's not that difficult. You simply need to treat seniors like toddlers here.
- Offer them meals that look appealing but are healthy at the same time.
- One must take care of eliminating items that trigger their medical conditions such as sugar.
- It is common for senior citizens to want some company at times to enjoy and feel included. So, you may treat their meals as a routine to sit with the whole family and enjoy time together.
- Also, make sure to fight common problems like dry mouth.
Outdoor Activity can be Helpful
You cannot ask the elderly to sit at home and relax at all times. They have been caring, nurturing, doing jobs, and making decisions all their life. Such sudden changes can cause mental distress. It can also make them feel like a burden. So, it is important to ensure to find at least one outdoor activity they enjoy, which can benefit them physically and mentally.
- If you're worried about how to encourage elderly to exercise, then start with something simple. It can be a morning walk in their favourite park or joining a yoga class.
- Giving them company or finding them a social group to engage with while being a part of these outdoor activities can be one of the best ways how to encourage elderly to walk or exercise.
Recording their Progress and Rewarding them
Once you know how to motivate elderly to exercise or follow other healthy habits, it is important to keep track of them.
- Assigning them small goals can be helpful and exciting for them. For instance, completing a certain step count by the end of the week can reward them with a social event of their choice. Or four to five days of yoga classes a week can mean a family dinner at their favourite restaurant. These are the simple ways to encourage seniors to be involved in some physical activities that can be beneficial in the long run.
- This can also help you record their progress and improvement in health. Engaging in such activities can help you recover from some injuries.
Summing Up
Motivating the elderly is important to make them feel accompanied and valued. However, knowing how to motivate seniors is equally important. The correct methods can help them commit to their goals. It can also be quite helpful in improving their mood and daily lifestyle. Not to forget, the same is quite important for the elderly's self-confidence as well.
However, one must understand that every age is different. For seniors, you have to be calm and patient. Whether it is their schedule or daily exercise, they should follow a pace that they are comfortable with. Setting imaginary goals is not suggested at all. Additionally, you can also take assistance from care facilities for the elderly. They are properly educated and equipped with knowledge on how to motivate seniors to exercise, eat, and follow day-to-day chores. Their basic purpose is to make life easy for the seniors. Such facilities allow seniors to live an independent life with dignity, love, and care.
Apart from these, having a senior citizen health insurance, as offered by Care Health Insurance, can further ensure a comprehensive shield against health problems associated with old age. At an affordable premium, you can invest in a health plan for your parents and secure their health.
Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.
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