(ThySistas.com) We are all going to live much longer and healthier lives than any of our predecessors. Our current generation of seniors is enjoying that same benefit. So, we all need to think a little bit more about how we treat our elders, and how we keep them, and ourselves, healthy, safe, and happy. There are several issues facing the wellbeing of our older loved ones, so what can we do to help them?
Give them the place in the family they deserve
Respect your elders. It’s a tradition that we don’t hear as often as we used to. We live in a faster-moving world and one that seems more demanding than ever. As a result, many people save their respect and concern for those closest to them. Amongst those often sidelined are our older relatives. But, as you can see here, isolation is a growing concern amongst elders. Families are less connected, kids tend to move out earlier, and rarely establish the same connection with parents that they once had. Loneliness isn’t just unpleasant, it
increases our risk of a whole range of problems, from depression to dementia. By simply taking the time to include your loved ones and to spend time with them, you could be saving their life in your own small way.
Out of sight, out of mind
We are relying more on caregivers and nursing homes than ever before, too. That’s not a bad thing. It’s an all-around improvement that we’re ensuring those we love have someone to take care of them. But the question is how much we trust them to provide that care. Over here, you can see how nursing home abuse and neglect is becoming a much bigger problem than ever before. One of the reasons that is the case is that younger relatives tend to be absent from those settings. We need to do more to ensure that we’re not simply putting our older loved ones out of sight and assuming their wellbeing. What’s more, we need to be respectful and aware when they highlight concerns, rather than gaslighting them.
The growing risk of poverty
We also tend to make the mistake of assuming that our older loved ones are able to provide for themselves. Even with state benefits, however, that’s not always the case. At this link, you can see that poverty amongst the elderly is a growing concern. Now, our older loved ones may not be open to sharing financial distress because of embarrassment or because they don’t want to be a burden. But by simply helping out with groceries on a more regular basis and offering a little help with budgeting, we can lower their chance of falling into poverty by a significant degree.
We all want to age with dignity, comfort, safety, and relative happiness. However, if we expect that for ourselves, we have to ensure it for the others who are currently in the golden years of their lives. As a society, we must protect the health and wellbeing of our senior citizens and there is no better time to set that example than now.
Staff Writer; Carla Woods