What is required to make a healthy and better community? There is no one correct answer to the question, because there are a number of ways people within the community can apply to make their neighborhood better and healthier for others sharing it as well.
For older adults, ensuring a better community does not only entail creating physical spaces and services that help and encourage them to take an active part in their own lives. While it’s very important that all communities have safe bike paths, walking trails, meditation areas and outdoor fitness spaces, this is solely from an infrastructure’s point of view.
People in their community have a “personal responsibility”, which means that you as a person have a responsibility towards the community and to those who are vulnerable within it. In this respect, you can take actions to fulfill this responsibility in a number of other ways as well.
Expectations
A good way to help older adults in maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle is to assist them with any changes that are required within their lifestyle and to give them the confidence that they won’t fail in their endeavors. Certain lifestyle changes might include something as simple as a change in diet to something as big as a decision to pursue bathroom improvements for ease of access. Thinking positively about aging can actually increase lifespan as shown by research.
Exercise
Exercise and staying active gives energy to the body as well as the mind, but many older adults don’t get enough of the physical activity that they need to stay well. There are a number of ways in which you can help promote this, either collectively or individually. Form an exercising plan according to their level of endurance and strength and guide them through the motions or hire a professional fitness instructor for a session or two. Always work with you physician to ensure you have the right plan moving forward.
Enthusiasm
It’s very important to highlight areas that they feel especially good about, such as their friends, family, a hobby, or work and identify an activity that develops an enthusiasm to do more. These activities can become a helpful lifeline to deal with other potential issues in their life and live it to the fullest.
Engagement
There is a level of self satisfaction and general well-being that we get when volunteering, a sense of giving something back to the community. This is why encouraging older adults towards volunteering and other forms of social and civic engagements can assist in maintaining their good health.
For A Better Community: Town Audits
This is when a group of like-minded volunteers source the community and document the potential hazards. These problems and defects in the communities might include wheelchair accessibility, timed traffic crosswalks lights and paved sidewalks that might not be safe for older adults to navigate.
This is a fantastic initiative which can help in making necessary improvements to the community so that seniors can carry on with their daily lives without any problems.
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