When you have a family member in their senior years that is beginning to lose some of their independence, you may find yourself searching for ways to make life more pleasant and purposeful for them. Your family member may no longer be able to drive, their mobility may have decreased or memory loss and confusion may be causing a change in their lifestyle. There are a variety of things you can do to increase their quality of life. Here are just a few ideas:
Getting Out and About
If your family member no longer drives, their outings may be limited to doctor appointments or grocery shopping when you or someone else takes the time to drive them to wherever they need to go. If they once belonged to some type of club or attended group meetings of some type, you might want to consider making arrangements to get them to those meetings. Another great idea would be to take them to their favorite restaurant on a regular basis or just give them the opportunity to enjoy a scenic ride from time to time. By staying active in their old hobbies and favorite things, they’ll be able to live out their final years with happiness.
Staying Connected
Seniors who live isolated lives often become depressed. Isolation and depression may put your loved one at a greater risk for developing dementia. Check into the amazing ways technology can help seniors stay connected such as easy-to-read cell phones, computers simplified for seniors and adaptations that enable hearing impaired seniors to once again enjoy conversing with family and friends. Another way to keep your aging family member connected with family and friends is to arrange to have family birthday parties at their house. You will probably be the one doing the majority of the preparation and clean-up but your family member can get involved as much as possible.
Help Them Stay Active
If your family member has the physical ability to do exercises that are safe for seniors, encourage them to exercise daily. You might want to exercise with them or take walks with them as often as possible as well. Take them or arrange for someone to take them to local places such as a senior citizen facility where they can join others in exercise, yoga, bingo, dancing or special trips.
Consider a New Living Arrangement
As an alternative to living alone, you might want to explore the option of moving your family member to a different type of living arrangement, such as those offered at The Scottish Home. This is because moving into a senior community where your family member can interact with other seniors can improve their quality of life. If your loved one has a progressive disease such as Alzheimer’s, living in a safe environment where participation in group activity is encouraged and special programs are provided could bring some happiness into their world.
You want your family member to feel they have a purpose in life, a reason to get up each morning and a reason to do all they can to stay healthy. You may have to be the one to offer suggestions and provide encouragement to get them to take steps to improve their quality of life. Patience and continual reassurance may be a consistent part of your relationship with your family member as they get older and deal with limitations that take away some of their independence.
