As we get older, life can become a little more difficult to navigate as a result of reduced mobility, strength, and cognitive functions. Not every senior will experience these difficulties, and naturally, these issues vary from person to person. However, there are things we can do to help ensure the comfort of elderly people. Here are 6 necessary items to help improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the seniors in our lives.

1. Brain Training Games

Brain training games such as sudoku, crosswords, chess, and general puzzles are all great for the mind, and according to Harvard Health Publishing, brain training games help improve cognitive skills such as processing speed, reaction times and short-term memory. Two-player games such as chess are a great way for seniors to socialize with one another, or with their families. This is so important as it helps to reduce feelings of loneliness and boredom. The bottom line is that these games provide seniors with entertainment, social time and help to maintain their cognitive abilities. This is a very inexpensive way to improve someone’s life, and so if you are strapped for cash and want to help a senior loved one, then this is a great way to do it.

2. A Mobility Scooter

The older we get, the harder it can become to move. Bones become stiff and fragile, meaning life can feel more restricting to some in the senior population. A mobility scooter can give seniors their sense of freedom and independence back, which is of profound importance for the senior. Mobility scooters can come in all shapes and sizes, as shown by Mobility Paradise, so there is something for everyone. By owning a mobility scooter, we give older individuals increased accessibility to the world, ridding them of those restricted feelings.

3. Weighted Blanket

A weighted blanket is a great item for seniors to own! Firstly, it is known to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Secondly, early research has found that seniors who are experiencing dementia find relief from pressure, which has led to care homes, hospitals, and nursing homes to experiment with weighted blankets. Additionally, a large proportion of the senior population suffers from restless leg syndrome, which is the sensation of an uncontrollable need to move your legs. Weighted blankets can alleviate these uncomfortable sensations, as the weight and pressure help the body to relax. What’s more, the pressure on the body encourages restful and deeper sleep.

4. Electric Jar Opener

This item may seem trivial compared to the others, but if you are a senior who lives alone, opening jars can be a very difficult and defeating experience. If you need to open a jar, and you can’t, this can have an impact on your mental wellbeing as it serves as a reminder of your weaker physical state as a senior. So to save any physical or mental stress, an electric jar opener is the perfect gift for any senior who is living alone.

5. A Suitable Mattress

Considering a person spends a lot of time on their bed, their mattress must be comfortable. This is especially true for the older generation as a bad mattress can lead to aches and pains that are hard to recover from. A study conducted in 2015 found that medium-firm and self-adjusted mattresses are best for those who experience back pain. Ultimately, finding a suitable mattress will allow seniors to experience optimal comfort while sleeping, encouraging a higher quality of sleep. Sleep is vital for your health, so the better sleep our seniors are getting, the better their health is and the quicker their recovery times are from dips in their health.

6. Lumbar Support Pillows

Everyone can benefit from owning a lumbar support pillow, but seniors will especially benefit from having one of these. If you are unfamiliar with what a lumbar support pillow is, it is an ergonomically designed pillow that provides optimal support to the spine, which helps to improve posture and relieve pressure. You can get these pillows for chairs, mattresses, and sofas, with the idea being that you use the pillow to support your back whatever you are sitting on. These are a must-have item to improve a senior’s wellbeing, as it is an easy, lightweight item that can protect their back wherever they go.

The well-being of the senior population is profoundly important, and we should be doing everything we can for the seniors in our lives to make sure they are happy and comfortable. Any one of these listed items will add comfort and value to a senior.