Advancing in age is inevitable for everyone, and looking after the elderly loved ones can be challenging. The general decline in both mental and physical health can take an emotional toll on both the retiree themselves and their children and grandchildren. Below are some personal care recommendations that will help.
Things That Aging Individuals Frequently Need
Living communities use a term called daily living activities to describe the routine care that aging individuals often require on a daily basis. These tasks consist of:
- Dressing
- Functional mobility
- Showering or bathing
- Personal hygiene
- Using the toilet
- Feeding
These are all things that young people do each day without thinking about it, but for those who are up in age, these tasks can be extremely challenging or even impossible. In the past, caring for such individuals wasn’t a problem because people tended to have large families that lived in the same area, so there was always someone nearby who could provide assistance.
But lots of things have changed in modern society. For instance, most people today live in urban areas rather than rural communities as was the case in the past. And due to advances in transportation, communications technology, and business, it isn’t unusual for family members to live in different parts of the country or world. Some have jobs that require them to stay in a specific location, while others are attending universities.
Choosing Retirement Communities or Living with Relatives
Aging retirees who are no longer able to handle daily living activities on their own have one of two choices. The first is to relocate and live with their children or grandchildren. This is the most optimal solution for those that have larger families since they have multiple relatives that they can rely on at any given time.
However, relocation is not a good solution for retirees who either have no descendants, are estranged from them, or who wish to remain in their own homes. Their situation can become more tenuous as they get older and reach a point where they’re having difficulty caring for themselves. This is why some people recommend independent living communities, but these communities are a service that requires monthly fees that must be continuously paid.
Additional Solutions
As you can see, there are no simple answers to this problem, which is why many retirees (and younger people) regard aging with great trepidation. The very idea of reaching a point where you’re no longer able to perform the most basic tasks for yourself is not only disheartening but humiliating especially for those that have a lot of pride.
The good news is that the ravages of aging can be resisted. There are retirees who are capable of intense cardiovascular exercises and feats of strength well into their eighties and nineties. Some of their videos can be seen online, where they lift weights and engages in other strenuous activities that aren’t commonly associated with people of their age group. This should inspire you to take action.
