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Have you ever noticed that as people get older, they become more depressed and often feel like a burden to their loved ones? Helping them overcome these feelings is often times a deciding factor for their wellbeing. This boils down to the people who surround them and the steps they can take to ensure their elderly loved ones receive the best quality of life. Here are few recommendations in that regard: 

Address the depression problem

Depression is a major problem for people over the age of 65. It affects a few million and it is usually the stressful life circumstances that precede it – losing a spouse, clinical symptoms, retirement, or not being able to live at home. It is important to remember that depression is a major cause of heart attacks, suicide and heart conditions, which can be severe in the elderly part of the population. The best way to address depression is to recognise it and see to getting some help from a psychologist or a therapist. 

Regular exercise and time spent outdoors

The elderly should engage in regular physical exercise, because it severely minimises the risk of stroke and heart diseases. There are many more benefits to regular exercise, including better sleep, lower blood pressure and immune system boost, which are all essential aspects of the wellbeing for the elderly. The results of many researches show that regular exercise boosts vitality and social functioning. Spending time outdoors also plays a crucial role, especially if it involves natural activities, which help the person exercise. Do note that all exercise should be moderate and light, so nothing excessive is recommended. 

Improving social interaction

One of the biggest challenges that elderly people in need of extra care face is social isolation. That is often the case with individuals with limited mobility. Because of these circumstances, they are at greater risk for dementia. In order to decrease isolationism, you have to improve the frequency of family outings and visits. It doesn’t need to be anything complex; just a simple walk in the park or a lunch together provide great opportunities for companionship. 

Mental exercises are important too

There are different things that can improve cognitive functions, like Sudoku, crosswords, trivia and other exercises that boost cognitive functions. There are also other ways to prevent the cognitive impairments that come with dementia from Alzheimer’s disease and others. Asking for their wisdom is also a good thing to do, because it helps them feel more valued and appreciated. 

Make them feel more useful

A common thing among older adults is that they sometimes feel like a burden, or that nobody wants them to be around. You could easily reverse this by asking small things of them. It could be something trivial, such as folding laundry, running small errands and preparing dinner. This will easily restore their worth. It is important to match their abilities with the tasks you are asking of them. After all, you cannot demand more than their abilities allow, or the effect you achieve will be the opposite. The goal is to make them feel more valued and appreciated and the only way to do so is to engage them in activities that serve that end. It bears mention that many of the abilities that elderly people possess do not wane that severely. It is safe to say that you can even learn something from them. 

By taking all of these steps to improve the wellbeing of elderly people in your life, you can truly help them a big deal. 

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