As your relatives grow older, they’ll naturally find themselves beginning to slow down. Old bones may begin to ache, muscles to stiffen, and minds to lose a little clarity.
Our home care services are intended to help compensate for the reduced self-sufficiency that can arise from such scenarios, but there are lots of other ways that you can aid them in staying fit, healthy and independent for longer.
Here are a few ideas that might be of interest…
1. Encourage Them To Stay Active
One great way to help elderly relatives stay healthy and independent for longer is by supporting them in keeping active. This could be as simple as encouraging them to take a daily walk to their local shops with you, gardening together, or even asking them if they would like to try taking the stairs instead of the lift when you’re out and about.
Doing so will not only release endorphins to lift their mood, but can also help to manage high blood pressure and angina, stimulate regular bowels movements and a healthier appetite, ease the discomfort caused by arthritis, and strengthen muscles and bones.
2. Make Sure They Get Their Dose Of Vitamin D
A lot of elderly people spend too much time indoors. This is understandable considering how much crueller cold weather can be on old bodies and more illness-prone immune systems, but it often means that they don’t get enough vitamin D – an essential component for strong bones.
We suggest encouraging them to get outside for at least 10 minutes a day between May and September. The government also suggests taking a daily supplement so that even those who are housebound are able to maintain better bone health.
3. Encourage Them To Be Sociable
As we age, it’s normal to spend more time indoors, but socialising is essential for a person’s mental wellbeing, irrespective of how many years they have under their belt. You can help by encouraging your elderly relatives to get out and about, perhaps offering them lifts where you can.
If this is not possible, choosing a home care service such as ours can be a handy alternative, as we take the time to assess the needs of the individual and give them the support they need, even if this is simply a daily chat and a cup of tea. Research shows that this can be a great way to combat loneliness and anxiety, and can aid in keeping them mentally happy and healthy.