According to 2019 WHO report, the global number of older adults aged above 60 surpassed one billion and will cross 2.1 billion in 2050
We can construe that the world is growing faster than we could imagine. It’s a good sign that the population’s average life expectancy is rising due to advanced health facilities. But as a society, we need to consider the quality of life of the elderly and take steps to improve it.
In old age, they are the most vulnerable due to the decline in their mental and physical health apart from the fact that there is no one to look after them and their needs.
Fortunately, there are a number of professional healthcare facilities providing personal and companion care for the elderly who are committed to offering a variety of services to suit their requirement.
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The role of these facilities is to enable the elderly to live a life of dignity, respect, and freedom to carry on with their regular daily routine.
Care and Understanding
Proper medication and health treatment are necessary for older people. But that is not enough; to regain good health. In addition, they also need emotional and physical support provided by immediate family members or a professional caregiver.
To avoid the feeling of being left alone, they need someone by their side who can listen to them, spend quality time and motivate them to be positive towards life irrespective of their poor health condition.
Make them self reliable
We tend to take control of the lives of the elderly and make them dependent on us, which is wrong.
Don’t overlook the fact that they are aging adults, and all they need is your support and care to bring back the normalcy in their life.
Let them make informed decisions instead of us commanding their lives. Allow them to perform their daily tasks as much as possible while encouraging them and not judging them.
Engage them and not cage them
It is advisable to plan their day in advance so that they have something interesting to look forward to.
The daily schedule that may include doctor’s appointments, if any, or helping them run errands should have a list of recreational or social activities. The mind and body must be active to boost their spirit and facilitate early recovery.
Help them find a purpose
As individuals, we all need a purpose to keep us motivated towards life. It starts with learning to survive for all since we are born, followed by formal and professional education paired with career and families for some, and for others, it could be an unconventional path that they choose for themselves.
The elderly owing to their ailing health conditions and other factors like loneliness, isolation, mental distress, lose their purpose.
As caregivers, we should encourage them to find that purpose; it could be learning a new skill, associating them with a social cause, etc. This will bring back the zeal that is lacking in their lives.