How can you maintain or even improve your quality of life in old age? If you're looking for answers to this question, you've come to the right place! Many people are afraid of no longer being independent in old age because their abilities decline or they become ill. Fortunately, however, there are aids and ways to lead as independent a life as possible in old age, despite a few hurdles.
In this article, I would like to give you the best tips for a better quality of life in old age. You will also find out briefly and concisely how you can prevent any difficulties. Let's go!
You can find a brief overview here in advance:
- Be open to help and resources
- Using a hearing aid
- Wear glasses
- Claim dentures
- Install grab bars in apartment
- Have groceries and food delivered
- Switch to a phone for seniors
- Move to another apartment
- Use walking stick, walker, wheelchair or senior scooter
- Do not simply accept restrictions
Prevention: What can you do in the course of your life to remain independent in old age?
Before we move on to the ways in which seniors can maintain or even increase their quality of life in old age, I would like to give you a few tips on how to stay physically and mentally fit for as long as possible.
Maintain friendships
Interpersonal relations promote health and well-being. It's best to spend time with people who are good for you well into old age. This reduces the risk of depression, strokes and dementia, among other things.
A balanced plant-based diet
To nutrition-related diseases like Prevent diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity and increase the likelihood of a high quality of life in old age, a balanced, plant-based diet in combination with sufficient fluid intake is helpful.
Ensure sufficient exercise
To slow down the ageing process of your own body, everyone should stay active and move a lot in everyday life. Among other things, the movement serves as Stress balancestrengthens the immune system and Prevents cardiovascular diseases.
Prevent diseases and go for preventive care
If you want to remain independent and autonomous in old age, you should have a lead a healthy lifestyle and, among other things, avoid cigarettes and alcohol, consume less fatty and sugary foods, and get plenty of sleep. Any Preventive medical checkups are also used for the early detection of possible diseases.
Tip: These and more Tips for the longest possible life I explain this in more detail in the linked blog post.
10 tips: How can you maintain or even improve your quality of life in old age?
Now you know what is necessary to ensure a high probability of Despite a high biological age to still be "young" and active, to make plans, to have dreams and ideas.
Of course, everyone wants to be healthy and live as independently as possible in old age. However, experience shows that physical and mental complaints increase the older you get. For example, it is harder to see and hear - and mobility is often impaired.
But with the following aids and tips, everyone can maintain their quality of life in old age for as long as possible.
1. be open to help and aids
Accepting help when it is needed is a Skill that must be learned - especially to maintain quality of life in old age. You can't do it without help - and you don't have to! Because family, friends, doctors or even care and delivery services are always there to help.
Get a ride to friend:in, increase your safety through a home emergency call system, use bed risers in your bedroom or Take advantage of state subsidies for age-appropriate conversion measures. It is important to be open to help in order to remain as young, active and independent as possible in old age.
2. use a hearing aid
Hearing ability usually declines in old age - many people then suffer from hearing loss. Correctly adjusted and now almost invisible Hearing aids can significantly improve the quality of life in such cases. The technology Improves listening comprehension in conversations in particular and lets you participate more actively in conversations.
But it also allows you to perceive calming background noisessuch as birdsong or babbling brooks that you haven't heard for a long time. This is how Activities in nature are a lot of fun and also keep you fit. For these benefits, it's definitely worth taking the Advice from ENT specialists, opticians or Hearing aid acousticians to make use of.
3. wear glasses
Similar to hearing loss, most senior citizens also suffer from hearing loss. Presbyopia are not spared. The fact that visual acuity decreases is part of the normal ageing process of the lens of the eye.
This is why you should always check your eyesight - especially in old age - and wear glasses if necessary. Because glasses are the decisive factor in such cases. Aids to continue to move independently and safely in everyday life.
4. claim dentures
Of course, your own teeth are always the best - a Careful oral and dental care is therefore the basis for healthy teeth in old age. But things often turn out differently. For example, tooth decay, inflammation or other problems can mean that at some point you can no longer eat or speak properly.
Removable dentures, fixed dentures or on residual teeth anchored hybrid prostheses can then maintain or increase independence and quality of life in old age. They almost feel and look like real teeth.
5. install grab bars in apartment
When your own mobility starts to decline somewhat, special grab rails can make everyday life much easier. The handles are particularly useful for senior citizens, but also for people with physical disabilities of all ages, when getting out of the shower and bathtub or when putting down after going to the toilet.
The handholds can be adjusted with a Suction cup on smooth surfaces such as porcelain, glass or tiles and in this way ensure more security. In addition, they are transportable and make traveling easier even in old age, as it can be used, for example, to make any hotel room more age-appropriate in just a few seconds.
6. have groceries and food delivered
It can be quite exhausting for older people to do the shopping and then cook dinner. Accordingly, there are ways to make the Have weekly shopping done and delivered by supermarkets or special service providers.
Also offers like Meals on wheels are a real relief not only for senior citizens, but also for their relatives. And as you get older a hot lunch every day or a menu package with frozen meals for the week.
By taking advantage of such offers of help, you can Make life easier for you as a senior and maintain or even increase your usual quality of life in old age.
7. switch to a telephone for seniors
As we get older, our fingers usually become less nimble and we also find it harder to see. A wonderful aid for a better quality of life is therefore a so-called seniors' telephone, which can be operated via particularly large buttons, hearing aid support and optical call signaling available.
This makes it much easier to operate and makes it possible to stay in contact with friends and family. This is particularly important if mobility is somewhat restricted.
8. move to another apartment
The Equipment and location of own apartment is crucial for many older people in terms of how independently they can still act in their retirement.
For example, if you Only short shopping distances or no stairs to walk but the nearest supermarket is a kilometer away and the apartment is in a stairwell without an elevator, it might make sense to move to an apartment suitable for the elderly (e.g. at ground level, with an elevator or stairlift) or an inpatient facility in order to maintain independence in old age.
The apartment must be quite simple Adapted to your own needs and abilities be or be adapted.
Tip: In the course of your life, you can also make provisions through targeted, age-appropriate construction or conversion measures (often subsidized by the state!) so that you can continue to do many things yourself in old age.
9. use walking stick, rollator, wheelchair or senior scooter
Legs generally become heavier and frailer with age. Older people with limited walking ability should therefore use the aids available, to remain mobile and improve living conditions.
A walking stick or scooter for senior citizens makes it easier, for example, to visit friends, do a little shopping or go to a soccer match at the local sports club.
10. do not simply accept restrictions
Through behavioral changes (e.g. a change in diet) or targeted Care and rehabilitation older people can counteract declining abilities and thus ensure their own independence. The Technology is also constantly advancing and especially in old age you are not always up to date with the latest possibilities.
Therefore take Medical or specialist advice on remedies or aids if it can help you to cope with the end of your life as independently of other people as possible.
Maintaining quality of life in old age, made easy!
Everyone dreams of growing older with dignity and being able to live independently in old age. Here you have learned many tools and tips to ensure that this dream comes true. Dream reality will.
Opt for a walking stick or a rollator if your legs no longer really want to go. Use glasses if your eyesight is deteriorating. And move into an apartment suitable for the elderly if you have problems with the stairs or long shopping trips. There is always a way to compensate for declining abilities and yet remain as independent as possible.
"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
Franz Kafka
I very much hope that I can help you to improve your quality of life in old age with this blog post. Do you have any questions, suggestions, tips or your own experiences that you would like to share? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay healthy and positive,
PS: There are some Things that many dying people regret. Have you ever thought about what it could be? The linked article will give you plenty of inspiration for the
