Sadly, so many seniors in our society are not getting what they need in their everyday lives to live healthy lifestyles. Sometimes it’s a matter of not understanding how even basic needs change as they age. Other times, they cannot do what they need to do because they don’t have the financial wherewithal to meet those needs.
This is where so many organizations step up to the plate to educate and offer assistance to seniors needing help. Perhaps you are the director of a needs-based senior center looking for advice on seniors’ need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If so, here is some of what they need and what you need to know.
1. A Healthy Diet Is Paramount
One of the needs most seniors have difficulty meeting is the need for adequate amounts of healthy foods. You’ve probably got a branch of Meals On Wheels in your community, but they can only serve a finite number of seniors. Some locations can usually offer only one meal a day, perhaps five days a week. What about the other two days or the other two meals each day?
If your charity is focused on helping seniors live independently, it’s probably up to your group to find funds to feed these elders. Don’t despair just yet because you have access to a fundraising toolkit that will show you how best to raise funds needed to feed the hungry.
2. Regular Exercise
Not all seniors can walk two miles a day, but every senior should get as much exercise as possible. Some will require the aid of volunteers who can take them on those short walks or help them do some easy exercises at home.
It is essential to keep strength in muscles rarely used, but regular exercise keeps the heart pumping, bringing oxygen to cells throughout the body. Some geriatric specialists state that improved blood flow also improves memory function, which can, in turn, delay the onset of age-related dementia.
3. Socialization
Have you ever queried why you see so many seniors in bingo halls? For many, this is the only socialization they get in their lives anymore. Some of their friends have passed away, others have moved into a residential facility, and others yet have fallen victim to Alzheimer’s or dementia.
It’s hard to live in a bubble without companionship, so it is necessary to provide them with ways to get out and about among peers they can strike up a friendly conversation with.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for all seniors who genuinely need to live a healthy lifestyle. From the mental health social stimulation offers to the required nutrients in daily foods they eat, there is so much that seniors rely on to live a quality of life they so deserve.
Let your charity start with the basics and move up from there. For the time being, giving them the means to eat properly, exercise, and socialize will get them on the road to a healthier, happier life.
