Encouraging and inspiring your patients is vital. Set goals that are manageable make realistic plans and try to stick with them with your patients.
- One of the best ways to stay healthy and physically active is to start an exercise. Set manageable goals, begin with walking every day for 10-20 minutes, increase the time daily or weekly. It is never late to start exercising. The studies show that physical activity can prevent diseases including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, types of cancer. It also reduces the risk of falls and fall-related injuries. Arrange pleasant activities for your patients. For example, sign them up for a local walking tour or take a stroll around the park. Check progress and reevaluate goals over time.
2.Encouraging a healthy diet is also a crucial part of keeping your patients happy and healthy. Older patients may develop poor eating habits, and reasons can be decreased sense of smell and taste, teeth problems, and depression. They also have difficulty standing in a long line of supermarkets or cook by themselves. The caregiver is the one who can maintain healthy nutrition for their clients. The food should be enriched with essential vitamins, including vitamin D, vitamins B6 and B12.
3. Sense of usefulness and accomplishment is another issue that is essential for elderly patients. You, as a caregiver, can identify and introduce conversational topics or tasks to discuss with them. Ask them for advice on practical as well as essential life matters. Listen to them like they are your mentors. Ask for their opinion on the specific decision you need to make. Introduce manageable tasks for them so they can feel a sense of accomplishment.
4.Introduce them to the new technologies. Internet and social networks can be exciting and fun new experiences for elderly patients. It is a way for them to connect with long-lost friends or family members. But technologies can be a scary new world for them, making it easier by explaining ways to use them.
