Self-Engagement in Well Being Enhances Quality of Life

Enhancing Seniors Well Being | Ensuring senior adults are actively involved in their own health and wellbeing is a priority for health professionals and policy makers. As the number of older adults increases, there is a rising threat of strain on resources, both financial and medical. However, there are many reasons why this should also be a priority for the senior adults themselves. Many younger people fear that getting older will mean years of poor health, mobility problems, cognitive decline, and loss of independence. The truth is, however, that many of these difficulties associated today with growing older are preventable or at least manageable. Adults can grow older and remain active by making choices that benefit their overall health.

Fast Facts About Seniors

Nine out of ten Canadians aged 75 or older live with at least one chronic disease, and seven percent live with five or more.

Why Seniors Should Care About Their Well Being

One could make the argument that we all have to die somehow, so why not enjoy life while we are here? The logic breaks down, however, when one considers that poor choices do not necessarily lead to a speedy end of life. People are living longer. Those who reach the age of 65 today can expect to live 19.2 additional years on average. That is five years longer than their counterparts in 1960. More commonly, lack of interest in personal wellbeing and poor health choices result in reduced ability and independence and an overall reduced quality of life. Consider the statistics:

• Chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic lower respiratory disease are on the rise in the older population; more than 7 million Canadians over 50 years of age suffer from at least one.
• Many chronic conditions are often preventable with a healthy diet and exercise.
• In 2010, the most recent data available at the time of printing, 38 percent of adults aged 65 or older were obese and the numbers continue to rise.
• In 2010, only 11 percent of adults aged 65 or older engaged in aerobic or muscle-strengthening exercise.
• Older adults (65 or older) are the most sedentary age group, spending 10 hours or more daily sitting or lying down.
• In 2010, 10 percent of both men and women aged 65 or older were current smokers, but 53 percent of men and 29 percent of women were former smokers.

The consequences of poor choices for older adults means more time spent needing help and care and a greater financial burden. This can also result in increased rates of depression for older individuals as they begin to lose control over their own lives.

Related Article: Seniors and the Road to Quality Sleep

Motivating Change

Perhaps the greatest motivator for enhancing seniors well being is the perceived control over one’s health. Seniors who actively make decisions that impact their overall quality of life are empowered; they “beat” the ageist stereotype of the frail, incompetent, senile, elderly individual. Simple education can be a motivating factor for seniors to take an interest and control over their personal wellbeing. Fully understanding the impacts of decisions can guide the individual in making better decisions.

Even those who are already facing physical challenges can enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and reduce the impacts of, or in some cases reverse, the chronic conditions that lead to a reduced quality of life. Family, friends, spouses, and caregivers can support the older adult and ensure he or she has access to the resources needed to remain active and follow through with healthy choices. Becoming involved with the older adult while supporting their choices has the added benefit of increasing the senior individual’s social engagement, yet another factor in increased quality of life. Better yet, the older adult may just teach their younger counterparts a few things about growing old gracefully.

Comfort Keepers^® Can Help Enhance Senior Well Being

At Comfort Keepers^®, we want to help preserve all areas of Enhancing Senior Well Being. Our caregivers can help seniors follow the recommended steps that promote quality sleep and let the family know of any dramatic changes in sleep behavior. Contact a the Comfort Keepers Orangeville office today to learn more about our in-home care services.

Bonus Article: What To Expect with Home Care

References

AARP. (n.d.) Chronic conditions among older Americans.  Retrieved from http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/beyond_50_hcr_conditions.pdf.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (May 11, 2011). Chronic disease prevention and health promotion: Healthy aging at a glance 2011. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/chronic.htm.

National Health Service. (November 7, 2013). The importance of exercise as you get older. Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/activities-for-the-elderly.aspx.

Phillips, E.M., Schneider, J.C., and Mercer, G.R. (2004). Motivating elders to initiate and maintain exercise. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.,85(Suppl 3), S52-57. Retrieved from http://www.instituteoflifestylemedicine.org/file/doc/publications/articles_by/MotivatingElders_Phillips.pdf.

Love for the Caregiver

Love for the Caregiver – Caring for others is often driven by motivations of love and understanding. It’s not uncommon for family caregivers to initially feel that their capacity for helping those they love is nearly limitless. From taking care of finances and managing medications to preparing meals and cleaning, there’s certainly a sense of fulfillment that comes along with assisting a loved one. But many find themselves going through the motions of caring without taking time out to focus on their own needs – often to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion. As a result, family caregivers may feel something they’ve never experienced before decreased empathy. This condition is known as compassion fatigue.

Fast Fact
According to CARP more than 8 million Canadians provided informal care to a family member or friend. More than 1 million caregivers are older than 65.

Compassion Fatigue

In decades past, compassion fatigue was seen primarily in healthcare professionals. This should hardly come as a surprise considering the profession involves constantly helping patients who are suffering or experiencing a diminished quality of life. But as the country’s ageing population continues to grow, there are many family caregivers who are left feeling much the same way.

In addition to the lower threshold of empathy, family caregivers experiencing compassion fatigue may feel the following:

• Exhaustion (physical and/or emotional)
• Feelings of dread or guilt
• Irritability, anxiety, or anger
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty making decisions
• Feeling disconnected
• Trouble finding meaning in caregiving
• Self-isolation

Outside relationships suffer as well. In a collaborative research study with the Stanford Center on Longevity, Comfort Keepers, and ClearCare, it was indicated that those responsible for a loved one with a severe illness experience poor emotional wellbeing because of their inability to properly maintain their social lives. The results of the study highlight the increasing need for family caregivers to not only acknowledge their compassion fatigue but also take steps toward self-care. Doing so can certainly help the family caregiver, but it will also help mend the relationship with their loved one.

What to Do Next:

Below are a few steps that family caregivers can take to combat compassion fatigue and get back to feeling positive about caring for their loved ones.

• Understand the common signs of compassion fatigue (listed above) and acknowledge them if they occur.
• Practice a self-care regimen that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and consistent sleep.
• Carve out time to spend with friends and maintain social connections.
• Find a caregiver support program, either in the community or online.
• Document your thoughts and feelings related to caregiving in a journal.
• Choose healthy activities during your downtime (e.g., go for a walk, meditate, or practice a favourite hobby).
• Discuss your feelings with a counsellor or therapist.

An Informative Read: Seniors and Blood Pressure Management

Love for a Caregiver Contest

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching we thought we would help celebrate the dedicated caregivers in our community. A Wrinkle in Time, a medical esthetics clinic in Orangeville, approached us about partnering for a ‘Love for the Caregiver’ Contest. Tammy Brady, RN and owner of A Wrinkle in Time, has generously donated a $100 Reflexology Gift Card and a $100 Gift Card towards a service or treatment. The idea is for both the caregiver and patient to use these gift certificates together and to both receive some well-deserved pampering. Tammy has been a nurse in the Orangeville area for over 20 years and understands how essential it is for the caregiver to make self-care a priority.

A Wrinkle in Time offers many services and treatments that will help rejuvenate any caregiver. Reflexology uses the feet and hands as a means of activating the body’s reflexes to promote relaxation and healing. It is an amazing service for clients of all ages. The patient or caregiver can use either gift card.

To Submit a Nomination:

To nominate a caregiver, go to Comfort Keepers Orangeville’s Facebook or Instagram page and post a photo and/or a few words about this special person that deserves some much-needed pampering. The contest closes on February 12th and the winner will be announced on February 14th. The winner’s story and/or photo will be used in a social media post.

Comfort Keepers Orangeville Facebook Page

Comfort Keepers Orangeville Instagram Account

For more information on A Wrinkle in Time Inc. visit A Wrinkle in Time – Orangeville, Ontario