Updated on October 21st, 2022
Improving Quality of Life is a Continuous Process
Important to have a Sense of Fulfilment
In addition to having a comfortable material life and a reasonable health, one of the most important needs for enjoying good quality life is to be engaged in activities which give you a sense of fulfilment. Seniors who have hobbies and pastimes like playing golf, cards, reading, writing etc have a better sense of well being. If you do not have any pastimes, it is essential that you cultivate some hobbies which keep you busy and help improve Quality of your life.
Health and Wellness is Most Important
Let us face it, the most important factor for enjoying the best quality of life is your health and wellness state. When we talk of health, we refer to the holistic health which includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Any deficiency in any of these aspects would affect the quality of your life. For your physical health, good nutrition and regular exercise are important. When we are young, we generally take our health for granted and are very casual about it. It is only when we start facing issues which restrict our full physical potential do we start caring for it. So, as seniors, the highest priority needs to be given to one’s health and wellness. If health is under control, other aspects for improving quality of life can be managed. Negligence in this regard may prove costly.
Guarding against Depression
Apart from gradual deterioration of their physical health due to aging, seniors are at a risk of being affected by Depression. The feeling of losing relevance in life and not being useful anymore, makes them feel unwanted. It is important to check this feeling by being socially connected. Also, for a strong emotional health, one should be stress free and have a positive attitude. Techniques like Yoga and Meditation have proved to be quite effective in achieving the right balance. To ensure a good mental health, seniors must always keep exercising their mind. Never stop learning something new everyday.
Travel to explore the world
Travelling brings in excitement in life and improves physical, mental and environmental well being. Seniors who do not have any serious mobility issue must travel to explore the world. This will make them energetic, adventurous, happy and significantly add to the quality of their life.
Include Senior Friendly Features at home
Your standard of your living definitely impacts your Quality of Life. Make necessary changes at residence by including senior friendly features like non skid tiles/stones in washrooms, railings for support at appropriate places, slopes with low gradient instead of stairs etc. Remember that senior friendly features are good for all ages.
Technology can play an important role
Technology is another area which helps in improving Quality of Life of Seniors. Today, the technology has a lot to offer in terms of senior health care, home automation, medical advice on line, alarms and reminders for medicines etc. Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google home are a boon for elders.
1. Routine Activities.
Today, the technology has made it possible do a variety of routine activities through tabs and smartphones. Easy availability of Digital Personal Assistants (Alexa, Google Home, Siri and Cortana) which are packed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and can perform many routine tasks with a fairly high degree of reliability just by voice commands. They are a boon for elders. The smartphones and digital personal assistants can help elders with :
- Reading/Listening News (in any language)
- Setting Alarms and Reminders (possible by voice command)
- Making a ToDo list and shopping (through voice)
- Giving current information about weather and traffic (by voice)
- Assisting in Fitness and Meditation Routines through audio and video Apps.(also possible through voice commands)
- Playing music and movies/videos for entertainment (possible through voice commands)
- Social Connections – Video Chat and social media Keep Seniors in touch with their near and dear ones irrespective of distance.
- Home automation like switching on/off lights, TV and other appliances.
- Remembering your Passwords and places where you kept your things.
- Assisting in shopping on line and even booking cabs online.
- Help fight against loneliness and isolation.
- Online Learning and exercises to prevent cognitive decline.
2. Medication. Reminding you to take medicines in correct dosage on time. Getting medical advice and information including doctor reports, test results. There are a number of smartphones apps which make this possible.
3. Security & Safety. Seniors living alone can get help with the Push of a Button through Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), a device which allows the wearer to call for help with the simple push of a button. For seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or the ones who are prone to wandering, a number of GPS tracking devices can monitor a senior’s location and send alerts.
3. Senior Work Out and Exercise. A number of video apps assist seniors’ in getting their bodies and minds moving are available today
4. Health Tracking. Smartphone apps and information tracking systems can help seniors in keeping their medical history, physician contacts, medication schedules etc updated which can be accessed by relatives, caretakers and physicians.