There’s no doubt that quality of life gets more difficult to maintain as we age, but even the smallest activities will help keep any senior loved one feeling as though they still have so much more inside of them.
Here are a few tips to help get seniors on the right track:
- Treat depression: Depression doesn’t have an age range, income level, weight, or gender. It can affect anyone, at any time. In seniors, it can be caused by many situations such as loss of a loved one or spouse, retirement, medication side effects, etc. Take steps to know the signs of depression and seek help from a psychologist, counselor, or therapist.
- Encourage physical activity: Exercise becomes more difficult to accomplish as loved ones grow older. Keeping them active has numerous health benefits. Exercising keeps seniors strong which helps them stay independent, improves balance which will prevent falling, stops or delays disease, improves mood, fights off depression, improves sleep quality, and so much more.
- Help them stay connected with friends and family: Loneliness and isolation are big issues in seniors. Those who experience these situations often live shorter lives, and it also calls for a greater risk of dementia. Activities such as taking them out to their favorite restaurant, arranging for the family to come to visit, involving them in hobbies, or even volunteering within the community are great ways to make loved ones feel connected.
- Help them feel needed: Asking the smallest task from a senior makes them feel useful and helpful, even if they can’t do it fast or perfectly as you could. Simple tasks such as folding laundry, writing a grocery list, prepping dinner, going grocery shopping, or even just keeping you up-to-date on the news are easy and fun ways to make them feel useful again.
Here at Second Step Fitness, we aim to improve fitness and the life of anyone 50 and above. Contact us to begin taking the right steps towards improving your senior’s quality of life!
