Ten Ways to More Freedom for Seniors

How do we help our loved ones that need more care to feel a sense of freedom? The answer lies in theirs and your beliefs. Our current beliefs may or may not be serving us well.

It may be well intentioned family members, physicians, drug advertisements, or government directives that are influencing our decisions we make every day without thinking critically if it is serving us or our older loved ones best.

Do certain drugs enhance life, or are they are a quick fix that may create other problems?

Can we improve our bodies, optimize our health and enjoy an extraordinary life?

How do we create meaning in the everyday of living, especially when it seems as if our older friends’ lives are contracting?

What benefits would appear if I expanded the options and information to make new choices?

Freedom is the ability to maintain control over ones’ decisions, such as:

Our aging companions may need more help, but they still need to have some control over basic decisions.

1. Stay strong and active. Walk every day, even with the help of walker or a companion. Exercise will increase confidence, clear one’s mind, and strengthen muscles. Plus, when done with friends, it may also increase a feeling of connectedness.

4. Seek out opportunities to help others. Again, the benefits outweigh any inconveniences. Empowerment. Connectedness. Knowing you are a part of something much larger than yourself.

5. Learn something new. Create new neural pathways to strengthen and expand your brain. Always play golf? Try basketball. Try a new language. Pick out something completely unknown to you or that challenges your hard held viewpoints.

6. Seek out stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, or daily meditation. Listening to music or going for a walk in the woods alone can clear the head and create a sense of serenity.

7. Teach someone else how to do something. Know how to wire a lamp? Teach your daughter. Know how to cook? Teach a friend. Great at math or science? Tutor a neighborhood child. How empowering is it to pass on what you know? Very cool!

8. Ask questions about your medications, or suggested tests or treatments. Write them down ahead of time and bring along a helpful advocate. Keep your own medical history and medications list on a Google doc.

9. Clean your own house. Get rid of things, books, clothing and whatever else you’ve collected that aren’t of use anymore. Be an adult and don’t expect your loved ones to do the cleaning.

10. Be grateful for all that you have — waking up everyday, loving others, enjoying the outdoors, eating delicious food. No matter what the circumstances, there is always something or someone for which to be grateful.

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