As our parents get older, many children find that they transition from the role of being cared for to the carer. In some cases, this might be a full-time job, and in others, it’s more a case of checking in and ensuring all is well. In either case – or anywhere in between – it’s crucial we do all we can to ensure our older parents stay healthy. Read on to find out what you can do to make that happen.
Assess The Situation
The first thing to do is to assess your parents’ current situation. Is their home still safe for them, or would a nursing home be better? If they can stay at home, what adjustments might need to be made to ensure they can move about safely? If they do need to go to a nursing home, which is the best one to choose? This is an important decision, but if you do find something amiss with your choice, it’s crucial to know you can find an expert nursing home abuse law firm to help you.
Once you know what the situation is, you can devise a plan that incorporates healthy eating, fitness, and socialization, all of which are needed to help keep everyone – including older people – healthy.
Get Them Active
Participating in regular physical activity is a great way to strengthen your immune system. The more active you are, the better your immune system will be able to combat things like inflammation and infection, which is why it’s such a good idea for your parents to exercise. Your elderly parents’ workout routine doesn’t need to be a demanding one; low-impact exercises can be just as beneficial.
You could propose to your parents that they take up riding, walking, swimming, or low-impact aerobics. Twenty to thirty minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise, spread out over the course of seven days, is recommended for those who can manage it, and there are special classes like yoga and water aerobics that are designed to help older people.
Arts And Crafts
Painting, crocheting, jewelry-making, and scrapbooking are all examples of arts and crafts that are both mentally taxing and accessible to people of varying skill levels. Encourage your parents to keep their fine motor skills sharp by giving them new activities to do every day. They can do it alone, or they can find a group to join for company – isolation is bad for an older person’s mental health. In fact, finding a class you can do together is an even better idea; it will help keep your bond strong, allow you to keep an eye on your parent or parents, and it will be fun for everyone.
As a gift, sign your parents up for a class or a craft group. If they know you spent your own money on it, they’re more likely to use it. You can also find ways to make your parents’ favorite activities work for them now. For example, if your parent used to love jigsaw puzzles but now has trouble with the small pieces, you could sign them up for a class for a different kind of puzzle solving.