Nothing accelerates the aging process like idleness and the feeling that you are no longer needed. The longer your parents stay active, the better their old age will be. Think about how to help them so that aging does not deprive them of condition and joy of life.

We get weaker as we age, but not dumber. A person who adheres to the principles of a he althy lifestyle can maintain the efficiency of the mind until lateold age . And over the young, it has the advantage that it has experience accumulated over the years. It is worth taking advantage of this experience, which employers in Western European companies are increasingly aware of. Europe's society is aging. According to the forecast of the Committee on Demography and the United Nations, in the next 10 years the number of people over 65 will increase by 30%, while the number of young people aged 20-29 will decrease by 20%. This means that in a situation where the elderly retire in the next 10 years, the European labor market (this also applies to Poland) will have serious problems. The worrying phenomenon of an aging workforce is already under discussion today. In many European countries, specific people management programs are developed to keep older people in work. Unfortunately, the tendency is still reversed here. It's hard to break the stereotype of an infirm old man. From an economic and psychological point of view, this is a mistake. Therefore, employers should be made aware of the benefits of hiring and retaining older workers. It is also worth persuading parents not to get discouraged and not to give up the fight for a job too easily … even if the boss closes the door to them.

Why is it worth employing older people?

  • They serve the company with their skills and are also a source of experience for younger people.
  • Their presence can strengthen the company's image.
  • A team with different age groups functions better than a homogeneous team.
  • In many companies, older employees are able to respond faster to changing customer needs.
  • They are more resistant to stress and emotionally stable. They have more patience.
  • Effectively fill the "job gap" created in connection with the economic emigration of young people.

Aging - necessarymove

It is known that physical activity is a condition for maintaining good condition until old age. But how to encourage a parent who is not used to the movement to do so? For example, by proposing joint exercises. When you go to the pool with your mom, you also invest in yourself. Of course, in the sheer volume of daily duties, you will not always have time for this, but try to initiate, for example, weekly family walks. Also, look for a group in the area where the parents live that they can join (e.g. Nordic walking). You don't need to spend a lot of time on sports every day. It's important to do it systematically. It doesn't have to be a huge effort either. No matter what, just keep moving! We won't stop theaging process , but we can slow it down considerably, prevent aging and improve quality of life, and that's what it's all about.

Aging - a proper diet

Life expectancy of Europeans has recently increased from 70 to 80 years and will be extended by another 10 years by 2060. The fact that we live longer does not mean that we are he althier, and a few dietary changes are enough to enjoy good he alth. Calcium from milk, yoghurt and cheese, and vitamin K from green leafy vegetables help maintain he althy bones. Lutein (kiwi, grapes, spinach) protects the eyes. For the brain to work efficiently, your diet should be rich in leafy vegetables, oranges, oatmeal, vitamin B12 (poultry, eggs and dairy), and omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish. Omega-3 fatty acids also help avoid heart problems, as does potassium, which is found in root vegetables, peaches and bananas. By adding nuts and soybeans to it, we will keep ourselves and our loved ones he althy until old age.

According to an expertEwa Gawryszewska, psychologist

Aging parents need our help. We know this and we try to provide them with the best possible care. After years of work, they deserve rest and special care. So we go shopping for them, do their daily chores and organize their time. But in doing so, we often forget their emotional needs. We usually perceive old age as either a period of infirmity or a great vacation. Meanwhile, older people want to participate in normal life. They still want to be needed. The feeling of being sidelined for many of them ends up becoming depressed. Most suffer, at the very least, from severely depressed mood. The environment perceives this state as natural - because sadness at the end of life seems obvious. We ignore it, the more so as parents often do not tell us about their problems so as not to burden us. Feeling lonelyfear of infirmity and the fear of death are taboo subjects. Instead, they only complain of various ailments, at least in this way to attract attention. Let us not ignore these signals. Let's take the time to talk. So honestly and without skipping difficult matters. Talking about emotions and what is really important can bring us closer to each other and bring real relief to parents. And if sadness is not good, let's convince the parent that visiting a psychotherapist is not a shame.

monthly "Zdrowie"

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Psychology