There are lots of myths around aging that people just believe, whether they think about these myths consciously or not. The problem is that continuing to believe these myths can cause seniors to miss out on the quality of life that they truly deserve. Some of these myths are easier to dispel when seniors have help, like from home care providers.
Loneliness Is Just Part of Aging
Seniors often just believe that being lonely is part of growing older. After all, family members and friends move away and seniors do become less active overall. That isn’t really accurate, however. Seniors need companionship in whatever ways are possible for them. That might mean learning to use technology and having video calls with family and friends or it could mean having senior care providers visiting a few times a week.
All Seniors Are Going to Experience Dementia
Memory loss is a normal experience for people of any age, especially when it’s just periodic or when someone is overly tired. But dementia is a totally different situation and it isn’t something that is inescapable for all seniors. If someone has a family history of dementia, that’s something that needs to be discussed with medical providers. Signs of dementia should never be ignored, but it isn’t something that is definitively going to be a problem for every aging adult.
It Doesn’t Matter What Seniors Eat
What seniors eat definitely matters quite a bit. Even if they’re not eating a full-on healthy diet every single day, eating balanced nutrition that is full of vitamins and minerals is incredibly helpful. It’s never too late for seniors to make small changes in their eating habits that help them to improve their health in small ways.
Exercise Doesn’t Help Seniors
Lots of people believe that exercise is something that just does not benefit seniors at all, so there’s no point in doing it. But the reality is that seniors benefit greatly from exercise, even if it isn’t intense exercise that lasts for hours. Something as simple as walking for a few minutes every day has huge benefits for aging adults. It’s vital to talk to medical professionals about exercise for seniors so that they know their specific needs and limits.
Learning New Things Isn’t Important
Seniors get a reputation for being completely set in their ways and never learning anything new. But when seniors keep learning new things, they keep their brains young and healthy. There are tons of different things that seniors can learn, ranging from crafts and hobbies to learn a new language or something else that they never had time to explore in the past. Seniors have more time than they might have had before and using that time now to keep learning is never a waste of time or energy.
These myths aren’t accurate, but they can color how seniors try to live their lives. Having supportive help from family caregivers and home care providers can ensure that seniors are able to live their lives the way they want on their own terms.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Lone Tree, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Parker. 303-953-9924
