Tips : Enjoying a Healthy Life in Old Age!
GBS - Aging is inevitable, but not everyone can enjoy their old age. One of the toughest challenges is having adequate health so that old age can be enjoyed without having to get sick.
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What is healthy aging?
This September is the month of healthy aging. This idea has been around since the baby boomers turned 50. In essence, this month is used as a momentum so that everyone, both those who are approaching old age and those who have reached old age, do not forget to take care of their physical, mental, social and financial health.
Having a fit body into old age is the hope and dream of most people. However, not only that, in order to live healthier longer, the elderly or the elderly also need to feel happy. After all, health and happiness are interrelated. To be healthy, you have to feel happy, and vice versa. Then, what are the factors that can help the elderly to be healthy and happy and how to make it happen?
Factors that make the elderly feel happy in their old age
At every age level, everyone will find their own challenges in living life, but getting happiness is often one of the most challenging things for all ages. However, many think that when entering old age, the elderly cannot feel happy. Moreover, the elderly are often neglected and taken for granted by those around them.
In fact, the elderly, especially those who have entered the age of 80-90 years, have a higher level of life satisfaction and well-being than teenagers and young people. This is a sign that in general, the elderly can actually still feel happy.
Well, happiness is one of the most important things for the elderly. Why? Happiness and health are two things that are interrelated. This means, when an elderly person feels happy, he tends to have a healthy physique, and vice versa. Not only that, happy elderly people show that their mental health is also maintained.
Here are some factors that can make the elderly feel happy:
1. Various activities
Not a few elderly people are confused about finding activities and feel bored because they don't have jobs or activities like they used to. In fact, the elderly actually feel happy if they can remain active and productive in their activities.
This is because, when actively contributing to activities that are useful, it makes the elderly feel satisfied, so that it has a good influence on their mental and physical health.
2. Many friends
Elderly people who are often alone and don't have friends often feel depressed, depressed, and feel insignificant. Therefore, the elderly also still need friends to talk or do activities together.
As long as you can meet lots of people, talk, exchange ideas, and do activities with other people, the elderly will definitely feel happy. The reason is, socializing with many people can indeed help maintain mental and emotional health.
3. Sense of need
The elderly will feel happy if they are needed. This is because the elderly often think that they are no longer able to do many things. Therefore, instead of providing assistance, the elderly more often get help from others.
In fact, the elderly also still want to feel needed and useful for others. Therefore, when someone else needs help from an elderly person, surely he will be happy to provide assistance.
4. Opportunity to increase knowledge
Learning knows no age, therefore when entering old age, the elderly still have to learn. The reason is, with extensive knowledge, the minds of the elderly become more active.
This can increase the feeling of satisfaction and happiness along with age. Not only that, this will also be useful in helping the elderly maintain their mental health.
5. Part of a community
Why do many elderly people feel lonely? It could be because the elderly do not feel part of any community. In fact, feeling part of the family, community, and a group of friends helps the elderly feel accepted and accepted. It is these feelings that make the elderly feel happy.
Factors that hinder the happiness of the elderly
Everyone's life challenges from various age groups are different, and so are the elderly. As they get older, the elderly have to face more and more challenges.
This often makes the elderly unable to feel happy. There are several factors that may be a barrier, such as the following:
1. Health problems
Elderly who have serious illnesses that lead to disabilities usually experience various changes in their body shape and image. Moreover, for the elderly who have undergone various operations and have various serious illnesses. This condition has the potential to cause the elderly to experience depression.
2. Feelings of loneliness
Not a few elderly who feel lonely when they have to live alone. Especially if there are no neighbors or people who are close and familiar to the home or surroundings. Not to mention if a partner, friend, or family member who used to hang out with him has passed away.
This of course made her feel sad and lonely. Not only that, decreased mobility, such as not being able to walk or not being allowed to drive a car because of an illness, can also trigger feelings of sadness and depression.
3. Have no purpose in life
When you are still in your productive age, you may still be enthusiastic about going about your day because there are various activities and goals that you want to achieve. However, what if you have entered old age?
Not a few people who enter old age feel that they have lost their purpose in life. Especially if the children are happy and have their own families, jobs that used to keep him busy, and much more.
This will make him increasingly confused about the direction and purpose of life, especially if at an old age he begins to have many physical limitations that make him not as free as before.
4. Fear of death
Did you know that many elderly people are afraid and worried about what will happen to them in the future? Yes, not a few of the elderly are afraid of death and worried about financial or health problems.
Focusing too much on fear only makes it more difficult for the elderly to feel happy with their condition.
5. Losing the closest person
The older the elderly, the more friends, family, and spouses who pass away. The people who used to live and fight with him are now gone one by one. This can lead to feelings of loss, loneliness, and depression.
Steps that can be done by the elderly to feel happy
Along with increasing age, everyone certainly experiences various changes in their respective lives. Likewise with the elderly, from changing careers to quitting work or retirement, children who are starting to grow up and one by one build their own families, to the loss of loved ones.
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So, to be able to live a healthy and happy life, the elderly must know how to face and wholeheartedly accept these changes. Here are the things that need to be done:
1. Focusing on what can be done
When experiencing decreased mobility, suffering from various degenerative diseases, to the point where they cannot live independently, the elderly often feel sad, disappointed in themselves, and experience various mental disorders.
In fact, if the mindset and perspective are more positive, the elderly can live healthily and happily. For example, instead of focusing on things they can't do now, it would be better if the elderly focus on things they can still do.
That way, it will be easier for the elderly to feel grateful. This certainly encourages him to be happier. After all, accepting and adapting to the changes that occur are key to staying healthy both physically and mentally in old age.
2. Establish good relations with others
Entering old age, the more often the elderly experience the loss of the closest person. Not to mention, the changes experienced such as retiring from work, experiencing a serious illness, or moving house can also make it more difficult for the elderly to have a social life like before.
In fact, communicating, establishing good and close relationships with other people can help the elderly not feel lonely, so they can live healthier and happier lives. Therefore, don't hesitate to find new acquaintances and establish a good relationship with them.
You can invite your next-door neighbors, or join a community and volunteer activity where you meet lots of people. Having lots of friends and acquaintances can help you avoid feeling lonely, and many other sorrows.
3. Participate in volunteer activities
Even though they are old, that doesn't mean they can't take part in volunteer activities. As long as they are still able to do it, of course the elderly can do social activities like this.
Older people can join this activity to help them feel better. Yes, besides being able to meet lots of new people, participating in volunteer activities can make the elderly feel needed by others. One of the factors that makes the elderly happy is feeling useful because there are still people who need their existence.
4. Implement a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle does not only apply to those of you who are still of productive age, but this pattern is also good for the elderly to implement. Moreover, if the elderly want to feel healthier and happier.
There are several things that you should pay attention to in implementing a healthy lifestyle for the elderly, such as the following:
Choose the food consumed!
Enjoying life doesn't mean you can eat as you please. This actually applies to all ages, but especially for the elderly. A healthy diet for the elderly means eating a balanced diet.
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- Prioritizing high-fiber foods such as whole wheat bread, dark green vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli), and fruits.
- Reducing or avoiding fried foods. Choose dishes that are grilled, steamed, or boiled.
- Increase intake of complementary nutrients such as fortified milk. Choose milk that has complete ingredients such as vitamin D, prebiotics and probiotics, calcium and protein – especially those that are beneficial for the elderly, namely whey protein.
- Ensures maintaining water levels in the body.
- Helps improve sleep quality.
- Increase appetite.
- Reducing the risk of heart disease.
- Improve fitness, strength, and body balance.
- Invite the elderly to visit old friends or other family members. If you can't, find someone else who can accompany him for the visit.
- Avoid arguing with people who have entered old age. Let them feel right because that makes them feel safe.
- Let them reminisce about their past as often as possible, and listen to each of them tell it.
- Make them feel like you need them around, not the other way around. Don't make them feel that their existence is just a burden to you.
- Let them do the things they are still capable of, and offer to help when they need it.
- Spend time with the elderly and do their favorite activities, because then they will feel that you are also happy doing activities with them.
- Accompany them to listen to the music they like, especially songs from their youth.
- When they get angry and act like a child, let it be. It could be, that is one way that can help him relieve fatigue and stress. However, don't treat them like children.
- Talk to the elderly using a good and polite tone, then thank them often, and tell them that you are grateful for their existence.
- Give a sign of affection in the form of a warm hug so that the elderly feel the love of those around them.
- Invite them to look at photos of their youth, and let them tell the story of the photos. Usually, this makes him forget his current condition and happily reminisce about his youth.