The family should understand the psychological and emotional changes that occur for the elderly.

How do the life style selections, which lead to achieving activity when getting old, start.

The life style selections start early in life and they include:

• Family and societal.
• Participation in life.
• Adopting a healthy, nutritional, and balanced regime.
• Avoid smoking.
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
• Introducing material modifications in the environment to suit the needs of the elderly.

Life needs of the elderly:

• Understanding that the elderly is a national wealth and fighting “bias” against the elderly.
• Helping the elderly to participate in the development process.
• Providing adequate health care for the elderly and improve their health.
• Reinforcing the cooperation between the generations.

Psychological health of the elderly
The family should understand the psychological and emotional changes that occur for the elderly. Thus the family must do the following:

• Taking the advice of the elderly in various situations.
• Delegating some family responsibility for him.
• Involving the elderly in the family and social occasions.
• Investigating the reasons of sadness and distress , and helping him to get rid of them.

Providing comprehensive health care for the elderly

• Regular check up for the elderly to allow for early detection of various illnesses such as blood pressure, diabetics, cancer, coronary disorders and nervous system diseases.
• Doctor supervision for the elderly will reinforce his good health.

Cleanliness and bathing 
The family should take care about the bodily cleanliness of the elderly to avoid skin or contagious diseases.

Home environment

• Organizing the furniture and the carpet in such a way to assist the elderly in walking around the home.
• Provide the canes and special tools such as hearing aides, glasses and dentures.

The nutrition of the elderly
Providing good quality foods with the right quantity, is the most important factor in ensuring good health. The elderly need the same type of nutrition. As they become old, their need for energy decreases and some physiological changes take place. Some diseases appear while taking medicine. All of these affect the nutritional needs or the elderly.

The nutritional requirements of the elderly

• The diet should contain high amounts of nutritional fiber (brown bread, cereals, vegetables, fruits and vegetables) in order to avoid constipation.
• Reduce drinking tea and increase drinking fluids and natural juices.
• Take 2-3 cups of milk daily and other dairy products to provide the body with calcium and vitamin D.
• Eat at regular intervals. It is preferable that the meals should be small and many.
• Reduce the fat intake and fatty foods, as much as possible.
• Prepare the food of the elderly in such a way to help him fight chewing and swallowing problems. This is done by proper blanching of the food and cut it into smaller pieces.
• Reduce the spices in the foods as much as possible to reduce the problems of the stomach and the digestive system.

(Every man prefers to live longer, but no man wants to get old)
Jonhanthon Swift (1706 a.d.)

Sports and Hobbies

• Encouraging the elderly to practice sport activities that will not lead to fatigue.
• Encouraging the elderly to practice some hobbies, which will make him avoid being bored, such as caring for houseplants, and the garden etc.

Sleeping
The elderly needs to have good sleep and rest during the daytime. The night sleep is interrupted and he may suffer from sleeplessness. It is preferred that his bed should be away from the air current.

How to value what the elderly provide

• Understanding the roles of elderly in the development.
• Enabling the elderly to participate in volunteer work.
• Supporting the contributions of the elderly to the society, especially the care contributions they provide.
• Encouraging the educational system, which continues from cradle to grave.

For more information contact us:
Email: myhealth@dohms.gov.ae