International Day for the Older Person: Tips to Take Care of the Elderly

Posted on: Oct 10, 2022 | | Written by:

International Day for the Older Person: Tips to Take Care of the Elderly

Published on October 06, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Have you heard people telling your parents and grandparents that they hardly look their age? Well, that may be a great compliment, but ageing gracefully is much more than just looking youthful. An aged person’s immunity weakens with time, and post retirement, they might lose a sense of purpose. So, you need to ensure that they are taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing and enjoying life. As we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons every year on October 1 to highlight challenges faced by the elderly, let’s look at their need for better healthcare infrastructure with senior citizen health insurance, to easily avail quality healthcare facilities.

What is International Day for Older Persons?

By 2050, the number of older persons is projected to reach more than 1.5 billion globally. This year is special because of the implication the pandemic had on the elderly. Therefore, we will celebrate the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on October 1 with this year’s theme of ‘Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World’. The day aims to raise awareness about the many issues affecting senior citizens. It also highlights the value of improved data collection segregated by age and gender so that better policies can be devised. Lastly, it also provides an opportunity to express appreciation for the contributions that older people make to society.

Why is Taking Care of Older People Important?

We cannot stop ageing. With age, the immune system weakens, and we get vulnerable to a host of medical conditions, including dementia, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease. If your parents or grandparents are going through this stage of life, they need more care, love, attention, and understanding. As people age, there’s a change in their behavioural patterns, psychology, physical and emotional health,which makes them feel insecure. It becomes our responsibility to give them the care, support, respect andhelp them live with comfort and dignity. Getting health insurance with comprehensive coverage is also a great idea.

12 Tips to Care for Elderly People

1. Don’t make them feel alone:

Visiting them often will make them feel they are cared for. As they need social interaction, spend time talking to them, listening to them so that they don’tfeel alone in the society. During your visit, you can also check around their house and see if they need anything – from food to laundry or overall cleanliness of the house.

2. Get help at home:

If your loved ones need help with daily activities and you don’t have the time for it, hire a caretaker or helper. If the helper is not known personally to you, ask for references or hire from a licensed agency.

3. Check medications:

Always keep a check on the medications that they are taking,to make sure there is an adequate supply of medicines. If needed, make a list with timings and doses so that it becomes easy for them to take the medications. And do keep senior citizen health insurance handy in case some emergency arises, and hospitalisation becomes necessary.

4. Take them for doctor visits:

Keep tab of their health conditions and take them for routine check-ups to your doctor. Let the doctor know about any new health issues that your parents may be facing. And if there is any advice from the doctor regarding change in medication, diet, etc, help your parents understand it.

5. Keep them active:

Staying active is half the work done. Some exercise is vital to keep them healthy and active and reduce the risk of falls. It is but natural for older people to feel lonely, isolated and depressed, especially after losing their spouse. Motivate them to get involved with family, friends, and in their community and help them stay social and active.

6. Safe environment at home:

It is important to check for their safety at home such as installing a ramp for wheelchair or walker, installing hand rails in the rest rooms, ensuring the overall lighting of the house is bright enough, the cables/plugs are safely tucked to prevent falls, the toilets are fitted with anti-skid mats. There may be lot of other things, so it is better to check whenever you visit them.Buying a Mediclaim policy will also make sure their healthcare needs are taken care of, in case of a fall or injury.

7. Watch out for driving issues:

With age, there is likely to be a decline in vision or reaction. When you feel driving can be a challenge for them, arrange a driver or look for home delivery options for their essential needs.

8. Exercise and diet:

Take them out for walks, morning or evening, whichever is convenient to them. This will make elderly people feel refreshed and they will also get to spend some time with you. At the same time, focus on a healthy and nutritious diet as they may not be able to consume or digest much at their age.

9. Gift them insurance:

Help them stay financial protected against any medical emergencies bypurchasing senior citizen health insurancewith ample coverage.Research and compare various providers before making a choice. Get a policy that covers critical illnesses as well.

10. Use tech tools:

When you are away, you may be constantly worried about the wellbeing of your elderly parents or grandparents.And tech can help you here. Installing a camera or a motion sensor can provide you information about their movements, falls and anything else. You can also install some alert systems which will send you alerts if something goes wrong.

11. Discuss about finances:

Since they have a fixed income, it’s good to openly discuss with them about their finances. They may not be comfortable to talk about their financial needs and expenses, but it is important to discuss to ensure they are not financially stressed at any time.

12. Give them time and love:

This is what elderly people crave in their golden years. Nothing can make them happier than the time that you spend with them and bring a smile on their faces. Engage in a hobby together or go to movies and picnics together.

Conclusion

Taking care of the elderly can get overwhelming at times. Which is why, you yourself must remain physical and mentally healthy and happy to take care of them. It is important that you take out time to unwind, delegate responsibilities to other family members, and make sure that the elderly in the family do not feel ignored or isolated. A Mediclaim policy is also a must to protect them financially against health issues and related treatment expenses.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

5 Best Start-Ups for Elderly Care in India

Find Out Why Senior Citizen Health Insurance is Better than a Regular Health Plan

Need Orthopaedic Surgery? Find Out if Your Medical Insurance Covers It

Tax Benefits on Preventive Health Check-Ups

Online therapy and health insurance for the wellbeing of senior citizens