Everybody gets to be young and silly, but not everyone lives to see their skin get as coarse and harmattan-stricken lips. The very existence of seniors should prompt a sense of urgency in us- the younger ones. Hey, you'll not be young forever. The arthritis, general weakness, gingivitis, and the horde of illnesses attendant with old age are pretty much determined during our early years. As we celebrate seniors and take care of them, we should take into account our mental, physical and general wellbeing since we will also grow old to take their place.

Yes, this is a health blog and hence we care about your healthy growth and living. Let's take a look at some ways to help our old folks get through one of the most vulnerable periods of human life. We could also pick a lesson or two as young ones to prevent some avoidable circumstances.

Visit them

There’s no better day than today to spend time with them. Lots of seniors no longer have a constant work schedule, a circle of friends, and rowdy children to keep them busy, and this isolation could lead to bouts of depression, loneliness, and discomfort. It’s important to take time off the schedules we live so religiously by to see any seniors we’re close to. Just the novelty of visits could lighten their mood so much more than, say, monthly stipends can do. In listening to them and caring for them, it’s wise to consider all the stuff we complain about - that job, child, nagging girlfriend - in the light of a 90-year-old version of ourselves. These present discomforts are what make our lives richer and fulfilled, and it makes sense to face our daily challenges with the calm temerity of a senior, living each day like a memory being written. 

Eat with them 

Few things bond people together better than food. Senior citizens are hardly an exception, and while their dietary restrictions might prevent them from grabbing a bucket of KFC with you, you could dig into their favourite ampesi to make them feel more loved. Eating together with seniors and doing so often helps to cut out lots of unhealthy meals you’d otherwise have eaten while listening to Grandma go on about her days when she walked a mile to school. Win-win, right? There’s an undeniable sense of belonging having a meal with someone fosters and it’s wise to grab that bowl of light soup today. 

​​​​​Create Safe Spaces

To make your favourite senior’s life easier, you can create a cleaner and safer environment in their homes. Let’s admit it, the farthest these octogenarians ever go is the bench under the tree outside the house. They literally live in their bedrooms. It makes sense then to make these spaces less obstructive to their movement, feeding, and overall well-being. It’s worth the time, effort, and gags to clean their rooms, arrange furniture in a way that eliminates injury and help them move around if they need it. It’s easy to overlook the agility of youth: you could save yourself mid-air when you trip by some weird catlike reflexes. Some old people can barely move around and would die for (no pun intended) the simple strength we so often take for granted. This should encourage us to preserve our bodies and keep them in good shape.

Oh, and one last thing...

Get your folks Pharst Care and please put our number on speed dial, we understand you maybe very busy and not be around to take care of them. Let us take the stress off your hand, it could really save time, money and most importantly a life.

Our youthful days aren’t test drives: every dent we take by drugs, alcohol, bad eating habits, or any other bad habits will make our times as seniors even more unbearable.These habits go a long way to harm our body and shorten the finite life we have. There's so much more we could do to attempt making senior citizens live like the top tier citizens they really are, as we reflect on our own finitude. You only live once, and whether you're a lap into this marathon or in your final run, live it well!

Don't hesitate to speak to a physician on Pharst Care when you feel anything's out of place with you or your granny. Let's make our folks enjoy the "last moments" on earth while preparing to take their place in the old age class. See ya!