Well-being covers your comfort, happiness, and health. It’s a multi-aspect state that’s tied to longevity. You can have a chronic health condition and still see improvements in your well-being.
Make sure your dad is working on the five areas of well-being for his mental and physical wellness.
Daily Exercise and Activities
Daily exercise is a must, but your dad also needs to enjoy daily activities. He should find a hobby and engage in it. If woodworking appeals to him, keep him stocked in supplies so that he can make bird feeders to give as gifts. If he loves to bake, keep him stocked with flour and other key ingredients.
For exercise, his goal needs to be 30 minutes or more a day. Even better, he should mix up the exercises he engages in. Have him walk a couple of days a week, follow along to an instructional Tai Chi video, and ride a bike or swim on the remaining days. He wants to work out the different muscle groups.
Generosity
When you give someone a gift or help out unexpectedly, it makes you feel good. There’s joy in giving. Go back to his favorite activity. Your dad loves to bake. The items he bakes could go to a food shelf or soup kitchen if they accept homemade donations.
Volunteering his time is also a good way to practice generosity. He could volunteer as a reading helper at a local school. He could volunteer to transcribe online documents for the Smithsonian. If he can knit or sew, volunteers are always needed to make blankets, hats, and other items for military members, cancer patients, and premature babies.
Learn New Things
Take time to learn new things. He can go online and look for free online college classes that appeal to him. See if he wants to learn a foreign language, engage in an online philosophy class, or learn to code. It helps exercise the brain.
Pay Attention
Taking notice of the world around you can help with your well-being. It’s the “Stop and Smell the Roses” part of life. Noticing the scent of flowers while sitting outside on a spring day is one way to pay attention. Listening to the different bird songs while taking a walk is another way.
Social Connections
Being social is important. If your dad doesn’t see anyone outside of your visits, studies find lack of socialization can reduce your life expectancy. Make sure he has someone stopping by throughout the week for a chat, to share a meal, or to take him outside for a walk or to explore area nature trails.
Home care services providers are one of the many ways your dad’s well-being is cared for. Home care services aides help with daily chores and important steps to being healthy like meal preparation and medication reminders. They also help with mental well-being by providing companionship.