Did you know that the U.S. Life expectancy increased by almost 30 years between 1900 and 2000? If you have older loved ones, you may be concerned about whether their quality of life will keep up with their quantity of years. As we age, our risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, arthritis, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and dementia increases, but that is not the end of the story. You can help your loved ones stay healthier and live longer lives by encouraging certain behaviors and facilitating a healthy lifestyle.
Encourage Exercise
Physical activity is important at any stage of life, but for older adults, it’s particularly vital. Older people who get regular exercise have better balance, which means a lower risk of falls. Exercising also improves heart health and muscle strength, as well as helping people sleep better and reducing the risk of depression. People who regularly exercise live longer and experience better health. Encourage your older loved ones to participate in a mix of activities like walking, gardening, stretching, swimming, or lifting weights. When you can, exercise with them, sharing in favorite active pursuits to make it fun.
Promote Connection
Social isolation and loneliness are significant problems for older people, as they often find themselves spending more time alone that they are accustomed to spending. As friends and loved ones die, health concerns limit their social abilities, and family members move away, older people often find themselves lonely and disconnected. Unfortunately, increased social isolation and loneliness can raise a person’s risk of issues like depression, heart disease, and cognitive decline. You can help make your loved ones’ lives better by helping them find places to plug into the community, whether that’s in a faith community, through volunteer work, or just by finding like-minded peers and going on outings. You can also help by scheduling regular calls and video chats and spending time with them whenever you can.
Support a Nutritious Diet
Healthy aging requires a diet full of nutrients, but sometimes older people have trouble eating well. Living alone can make it feel pointless to prepare meals, and some older adults suffer from a lack of appetite. You can help by encouraging your older loved ones to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats, to help boost their immunity and lower their risk of chronic illnesses. Share a meal, some healthful recipes, or a trip to the grocery store, to help facilitate a nutritious diet.
Help Them Find Purpose
Often, older people feel cast aside and forgotten. This is unfortunate because seniors have so much knowledge, experience, and insight to share. Having spent a lifetime defining themselves by their contributions, many older people find themselves adrift in their later years, without clear direction. Unfortunately, seniors who do not have a clear sense of purpose are more likely to experience cognitive impairment, heart disease, and a shorter lifespan. People with purpose tend to be more active physically and mentally, take better care of themselves, and suffer less stress. How can you help? You can look for ways that your older loved ones can share knowledge, love, creativity with others around them. Help them find useful things to do, whether that’s tutoring, volunteer work, or just helping you with simple household tasks. Encourage them to keep their minds active with hobbies, trips, and other interesting activities.
Advocate for Medical Care
Sometimes, older people can be resistant to seeing doctors or accepting medical care. Encourage your older loved ones to have regular medical screenings and health exams, and go with them to doctors appointments if they need support. Ask for permission to communicate with their doctors, and help them manage medications if needed. Urge them to visit the doctor for any new symptoms or pain. If you are concerned about a loved one’s wellbeing, consider a home health aide.
BrightStar Care® Helps Seniors Live Better
When you can’t be with your older loved ones, to make their lives better, a trusted home caregiver can help. At
BrightStar Care of Tampa, we offer a wide range of home care and medical staffing services, providing the right support to fit each client’s unique needs. Because we understand that memory care needs are different for different people, we provide personalized in-home
Alzheimer's and dementia care and support. With our variety of high-quality, compassionate care and our unparalleled support for our local healthcare system, we give more, not just to the people we serve but also to our community. We strive to make our clients’ lives the best they can possibly be while making the Tampa community stronger than ever, and we are honored to have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, both locally and nationally. From our nurses and caregivers to our office team and staff, everyone on the BrightStar Care of Tampa team cares deeply about providing the kind of high-quality care and support that truly make a difference in people’s lives. For more information about our care and services, call 813.692.1021 or
contact us through our website.
