How seniors can simplify everyday tasks
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Wellness
The ability to perform everyday tasks is something
many people take for granted. But as men
and women approach or exceed retirement age,
many may start to struggle with chores and tasks
they have performed for decades.
Physical limitations are a common side effect of
aging. But such limitations do not have to prove too
big a hurdle for seniors to clear. In fact, there are
many ways for seniors to simplify everyday tasks
while maintaining their independence:
Embrace technology
Even the proudest Luddites cannot deny technology’s
potential to make seniors’ lives easier. Seemingly
simple tasks like shopping for groceries and
vacuuming a home can be diffi cult for seniors with
dwindling or limited mobility.
But seniors with Internet access in their homes
can order their groceries online and then pick them
up in-store or have them delivered, saving them the
trouble of walking around the store. With regard
to vacuuming, autonomous vacuum cleaners have
removed the need to use traditional vacuum cleaners.
Certain autonomous vacuums employ sensors
to detect dirty spots on the fl oor, and these vacuums
can even be programmed to clean the home while
residents are out of the house.
Upgrade bathrooms
Tasks associated with personal hygiene also tend
to be taken for granted until they become diffi cult.
But a few simple bathroom alterations can help seniors
safely navigate the bathrooms in their homes
so they can maintain their personal hygiene without
fear of injury.
Grab bars can be installed on shower walls so seniors
can safely get in and out of their showers and
bathtubs. Such bars are both effective and inexpensive,
and some do not even require any drilling to install.
Specialty grab bars, tub grips, and tub transfer
benches are just a few additional products that can
make bathing easier for seniors who have lost or are
starting to lose some of their physical strength.
Get ‘smart’ on the road
Seniors who are experiencing mild difficulty
driving can make getting about town that much
easier by plugging their smartphones into their
vehicles or making use of the various apps that
have become standard in modern vehicles.
For example, the maps app on a smartphone
can be connected to a car and direct seniors to
their destinations, saving them the trouble of remembering
all the ins and outs of how to get a
particular destination. Seniors also can employ
apps to help them find their vehicles should they
forget exactly where they parked in crowded
parking lots. Such apps can increase seniors’
comfort levels on the road while helping them
maintain their independence.
Downsize
Whether downsizing to a smaller home or
simply downsizing a lifestyle, seniors may find
that living smaller is akin to living simpler.
Empty nesters may find they no longer need several
bedrooms in their homes, and moving into
smaller homes can reduce their daily workloads
while also clearing out clutter that can make
performing everyday chores more difficult.
Men and women accustomed to hustle and
bustle may also find that cutting back on professional
and/or personal commitments gives
them more energy for everyday activities while
enriching the commitments they continue to
maintain.
Aging men and women can employ various
strategies to simplify their lives and maintain
their independence well into their golden years.
Many positive changes come with
aging. Financial independence,
freedom to pursue hobbies, and
more time to spend with loved ones are
some such benefi ts.
But as men and women age, they
also must give consideration to those
changes few consider until they’re happening.
Retirement, loss of a spouse,
distance from family, downsizing, and
fears of illness must be given their due
attention so aging adults can get the assistance
they need when they need it.
Geriatric psychiatrists can fi ll the gaps
where others cannot.
The American Association for Geriatric
Psychiatry defi nes the profession
as a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy
with special training in the
diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
that may occur in older adults.
These disorders may include, but are
not limited to, dementia, depression,
anxiety, late-life addiction disorders,
and schizophrenia. Although geriatric
psychiatrists can treat these and more,
they also may help adults navigate emotional,
physical, and social needs that
come with getting older.
The AAGP estimates that the rate of
mental illness among older adults will
double over the next 10 years from what
it was in 2000. Many of the people treated
will need assistance with symptoms of
dementia. The organization Alzheimer’s
Disease International indicates there
are more than 9.9 million new cases of
dementia each year worldwide.
Geriatric psychiatrists can provide
specialized care to this unique demographic.
They often focus on prevention,
evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment
of mental and emotional disorders
in the elderly, says the American Psychiatric
Association, an advocate for
improvement of psychiatric care for elderly
patients. Geriatric psychiatrists
understand how medication dosage and
therapy treatments may need to be customized
as one ages. They also can consult
with experts in neurology and primary
care physicians when there are
symptoms across various fi elds, which
may be the case when patients are experiencing
memory impairment, anxiety,
and depression.
Geriatric psychiatrists suggest
speaking with mental health professionals
early on if symptoms of low mood,
restlessness, insomnia, and other hallmarks
of potential mental dysfunction
are present in elderly patients. This way,
doctors can step in early and improve
their quality of life.
Aging men and women may fi nd that technology helps them
simplify their everyday lives.
Geriatric psychiatry provides
support through aging