Comfort. There's no place like home, and wherever senior citizens stay, their comfort should always be a top priority. As they start to spend more time indoors than they used to, physical comfort becomes more and more important.
One way of approaching the needs of your older patients during this pandemic is to break everything down into three basic categories of wellbeing and aging gracefully: physical, mental, and emotional.
Older adults who focus on what they can do and find rewarding, rather than any decline in abilities, are happier. According to a study in The Gerontologist, accepting aging and adapting to age-related changes is vital to successful aging and well-being.
Losing physical functions and having to rely on others for daily care is the biggest fear among seniors. According to a 2010 study from the Disabled Living Foundation, more seniors fear losing independence than dying.
Nutrients that become especially important as you age include protein, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12. SUMMARY: Older adults generally need fewer calories.
Anemia (low iron levels) is common in older adults and can cause low energy levels. Eating foods that are rich in iron, like eggs, spinach, and red meat, can help support energy for seniors and fight anemia. Foods with Vitamin B12. B12 is a vitamin that is necessary for high levels of energy.
Because falls are the number one risk factor for the senior age group, older adults need to take extra safety precautions to account for physical changes of aging, such as declining hearing and vision, bone density loss, balance issues, and more.
Cognitive decline can cause aging adults to have sudden outbursts of anger. Symptoms of cognitive decline include memory loss and difficulty understanding basic information. Your loved one might become upset if he or she can't recall a particular word or remember the name of a familiar place.
Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact.
Bathing once or twice a week is acceptable for older adults, as the purpose is to prevent the skin from breaking down and lower the risk of skin infections. Seniors also tend to be less active than younger adults, so they can get away with fewer baths. However, you don't want your loved one to develop body odor.
