In the senior years, older adults will likely retire from work and withdraw from social and physical activities. Encourage your elderly loved one to remain busy to boost his or her overall health and increase longevity. Here are some of the ways seniors can continue to stay engaged in the golden years.
Engage in Creative ActivitiesÂ
There are many creative activities seniors can do to stay engaged as they grow older, including writing, painting, tutoring, and scrapbooking. These are fun activities that stimulate the mind and decrease negative emotions. Journaling can relieve stress and anxiety, which enhances mental and emotional health. Taking up creative activities can also keep seniors physically active, helping them manage their weight and prevent balance issues.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality senior home care. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably.
Schedule Date Nights
Growing older doesn’t mean seniors should let the romance in their lives go away. Instead, your loved one should continue going on dates with his or her spouse or significant other. Going on dates can bring the spark back into life, lifting your loved one’s spirits. The interaction can also enhance communication skills. If your parent is widowed, encourage him or her to give love another shot. You can help your loved one set up an online dating account, or he or she can try to find a new love through mutual friends or social groups.
Work on Home ImprovementsÂ
Seniors need to make changes to their homes to remain safe while aging in place. Work on home improvement projects with your loved one, such as redecorating, adding fixtures, and beautifying the landscaping. Make sure your loved one doesn’t do anything too strenuous. Regardless of how small the project is, your loved one will feel a sense of accomplishment once he or she completes the work. Take a look at the following easy and affordable home improvements seniors can do to stay engaged at any age:Â
- Bathroom makeovers – Change mirrors and accessories or add grab barsÂ
- Kitchen rollouts – Mount store-bought rollouts to the existing shelves in the kitchen cabinets to store pots, pans, and other cookwareÂ
- Backyard oasis – Add a canopy to the backyard where your loved one can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air while blocking out the hot sun and bugs
Hiring a professional caregiver can ensure your loved one’s safety and comfort at home. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Huntsville, AL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
Host Weekly Movie Nights
Watching movies with friends is a fun way to keep your loved one busy and social. Following the actions and conversations in the films can preserve your loved one’s memory and stave off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one has space in the backyard, he or she can host this weekly event outdoors. For the outdoor movie cinema, your loved one will need to use a projector, some type of sheet or screen to display the movie, lounge chairs and blankets, and snacks for the guests to enjoy. Watching movies indoors or outdoors can keep your loved one’s mind active and boost his or her mood, reducing the risk of boredom, isolation, and depression.Â
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional in-home care. Huntsville, AL, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. For reliable in-home care services, contact us at (256) 716-9940.Â