Empowering the Elderly

It's difficult for the elderly population to be living in this time of wild uncertainty. However, the situation is not all that bad, because there are so many ways to help the older community develop strength to improve their lives and stay

connected to the world.

Enjoyment and Excitement

The elderly can get their mojo by activities that are enjoyable and exciting, like practicing a skill while listening to their favorite music, or trying out new hobbies with friends. Activities that require them to innovate and be create, such as making art out of everyday items, can also keep enthusiasm levels high. That'll keep them up and about for a long time!

Exercise

Ah, the age-old solution. Exercise perks our energy levels up, fends off illnesses and improves our mood, and these are just three of its many benefits. Encouraging our older friends and family to exercise consistently will make a holistic improvement on their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Years of Experience

The elderly carry a treasure trove of wisdom from the experiences they've accumulated over the years. This makes them fantastic mentors who can provide advice that we may need when encountering problems new to us. It also makes them feel accomplished by passing on their learnings of others. Have a conversation with your older friend/family to discover their insights from past mistakes and achievements!

Leaving an Impact

The generativity vs stagnation stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development explains how "making your mark" by creating and achieving projects that make a positive change can do wonders to one's wellbeing. If one doesn't find their own way to contribute, they might feel uninvolved and isolated in the world, which bodes ill for their wellbeing. Start a conversation with your older friend/family to get them thinking about how they wish to make a difference in their own way.

Dreams and Desires

What activities has your older friend/family always wanted to do, but never did? Perhaps they always wanted to try a new hobby, like painting, dancing or photography? Perhaps they’re great in the kitchen but haven’t tried a new recipe in ages? These dreams don’t have to be lofty; making a habit of doing little things that we’ve always wanted to try, but never have, can be incredibly fulfilling too. That said, if your older friend/family has big dreams, such as setting up a charity or skydiving, that’s great too. Engage them in a discussion on how they plan to fulfil those dreams!

Love and Bonding

If you’ve ever seen an older person gaze lovingly at a baby in their arms, you’ll know how significant this experience must be. Intergenerational bonding is one of the ways the elderly can show love to the younger generations, and vice versa. The elderly can also have meaningful bonding experiences in other ways, such as when tending to flora and fauna in their garden, or taking care of a pet. Forming relationships with the community, such as joining an interest club, also prevents the elderly from social isolation and loneliness, which has been shown to shorten life spans.

Respect

If you’ve ever seen an older person gaze lovingly at a baby in their arms, you’ll know how significant this experience must be. Intergenerational bonding is one of the ways the elderly can show love to the younger generations, and vice versa. The elderly can also have meaningful bonding experiences in other ways, such as when tending to flora and fauna in their garden, or taking care of a pet. Forming relationships with the community, such as joining an interest club, also prevents the elderly from social isolation and loneliness, which has been shown to shorten life spans.

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Written by: Wong Su Ting | Designed by: Lydia Heng | Edited by: Xavierlyn Tan