Seniors now live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Seniors' quality of life depends on many factors including:
overall health status
financial & living situation
cognitive abilities
physical mobility
social interactions & activities
cultural background
support from family and or loved ones
flexibility & adaptability to changes & aging
Having access to healthcare, living in a clean & safe living environment, and eating a healthy diet will improve one's overall well-being.
The World Health Organisation defines Quality of Life (QOL) as 'individuals' perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.
How can you influence your own quality of life as a senior or help a senior to live a better quality of life?
Have a conversation - if you are a senior - ask yourself what quality of life means to you.
If you are concerned about a senior's quality of life - start a conversation. With that being said, it's challenging if the person has cognitive changes and or suffers from Dementia/Alzheimer's disease.
Most seniors describe the enhanced quality of life - as being healthy, living in harmony, experiencing peace of mind, enjoying hobbies, feeling happy, being satisfied with their life & accomplishments, having children and grandchildren, being socially active, and keeping oneself busy, whether with hobbies, volunteer service or some part-time fulfilling work. For other seniors, it might be being financially stable or unstable, having chronic health issues, maybe limited mobility and every day is a struggle.
For everyone, an enriched quality of life can mean various things.
Home health care services at affordable rates will improve seniors' quality of life, especially when they want to age in their own homes for as long as possible. Some are happier to age in an Independent or Assisted Retirement Living community with meals, daily social activities, and access to care when needed. For each senior & family, peace of mind has a different meaning.
If you are a senior - don't hesitate to ask for the support & help you need and deserve. We recommend that all seniors plan ahead and assign a Power of Attorney, which can be a family member or a close friend just in case they should be not able to speak in person about their own wishes in the future. This step has to be legally authorized by a Notary.
Contact us for a free home care consultation to see how we can help privately to manage tasks & activities of everyday living centered on the seniors' overall well-being besides care needs. We can also help with navigating the health care system and on the pathway to higher level care.
Be inspired and help yourself, or another senior. There are many free senior support services & organizations you or a loved one can turn to. Your local seniors centre or city is the first step to looking into which senior support services are being offered within your living community.
A beneficial resource is Seniors First BC and the BC Seniors Advocate.
Natalie Lehr-Splawinski, Community Relations Manager, on behalf of Diane Miller, RN.
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