
Indias is known globally for its closely-knit families and a value system that offers a lot of respect to the elderly. Despite these facts, as high as 50% of senior citizens suffer from loneliness, according to a survey conducted by Agewell Foundation. In the more urbanized areas, like metropolitan cities, the situation is far worse, where almost 65% of seniors say they feel lonely.
This doesn’t mean that we put our lives or careers on hold. However, with some efforts in the right direction, we can make life much more comfortable for our loved ones.
Here are a few things to make life better for the elderly:
The Wonders of Being Online
Online Personal Banking: The life of seniors can become far more convenient with online banking services. They can check their account balance, ensure that their pension has reached their account, verify the status of their investments or update their contact details from the comfort of their homes. So, help them begin online banking and be patient in answering their questions, to avoid lowering their confidence. With a variety of bank services available at their fingertips, there will be no more hobbling to the nearest bank branch and waiting in queues to get things done!
Online Shopping: There are sites that deliver daily items like milk, bread and vegetables right to your doorstep. Senior citizens no longer need to visit the grocery store and carry heavy bags back home. To ensure their safety, have the deliveries made to the security personnel rather than having strangers walk into their home. This is possible only if the deliveries have already been paid for. So, help them make online payments. Also, teach them to look for cashbacks and discounts offered by their banking services.
Keep Them Mentally Occupied
Puzzles and Crosswords: Encourage seniors to finish the crossword and sudoku puzzles that come in the newspaper. When they are done, praise them for their abilities. A few positive words can make a world of difference to the emotional well-being of seniors. Moreover, such puzzles have proved to delay the onset of degenerative diseases like dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Pursuing a Hobby: Get seniors to pursue an interesting hobby. Teach them ways to expand their knowledge, like watching YouTube how-to videos, reading books related to their hobbies and interests, interacting with online groups of people with similar interests. Once they’ve learned to access bank services online, they can conveniently buy whatever is needed to pursue their hobbies.
Motivate Them to Be Socially Active
Evening Walks: Encourage seniors to go for a walk every evening. They may meet other seniors and spend some time chatting.
Make the Home Friendly for Guests: People visiting can be the high point in a senior’s life. Make their friends and ex-colleagues feel welcomed when they come visiting. Actively invite family members who may be closer to them in age.
The smartphone may be an excellent boon for seniors. While banking services and online shopping may be necessities, there is so much more they can do on their phones. Show seniors how to get onto social media and connect with their old friends and colleagues. Teach them to read news and watch movies. Don’t forget to set your number on speed dial and let them know you are easily reachable in case of an emergency.







