Improving Quality of Life for our Elderly

Feeling fulfilled and satisfied with the quality of our life experience is just as important for general wellbeing as good physical health. In fact, having a good quality of life reduces stress, slows cognitive decline and improves energy levels, appetite and sleep quality, leading to better mental, emotional and physical health overall.

Here are some ways we help to improve quality of life for our older and vulnerable adults.

Keep them social

A healthy social life is one of the many keys to a happy life, but due to a lot of issues that come with age, our elderly often go months without seeing their friends. Try to arrange regular social meet ups with the people they love most.

Find ways to help them feel useful

The list of things we can do gets smaller the older we get. Things like cooking and cleaning that were once so easy become more and more difficult with each passing year, and having to become dependant on others for help with these tasks often comes with a lot of emotion, sometimes even depression. Find ways to help them feel useful and independent. They might not be able to cook a full Sunday roast anymore, but they might be able to help peel potatoes or wash the veg. Maybe they can't carry the washing basket upstairs, but can they help fold? These are all little ways we can help cultivate and preserve a sense of independence and purpose in our elderly every day.

Encourage regular activity

Whether it's a short walk around the garden or a weekly dip at the local pool, regular physical activity helps muscles to stay healthy and strong so our loved ones can keep taking part in their favourite daily activities. It also helps balance, mood, sleep, and delays many of the health issues that come with age.

Nutritional support

Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of our elderly, but often old age comes with changes in appetite, making getting their five-a-day a little difficult... Instead, find some good supplements and chewable vitamins to make sure they're getting all the nutritional support they need.

Safe and tidy environment

Have you ever heard to phrase 'A tidy space is a tidy mind'? Our elderly loved ones often don't have the strength or energy to keep their house as clean and tidy as they would like. Set aside some time each week to clean up their space and check around to make sure it's safe for them to move around in. Tuck away any cords, smooth out any rugs and make sure each room has good lighting!