Learn to grow old

Later for some and earlier for others, but we are all going to grow old. In this great transformation that the body and mind undergo, there is a breaking point that can become problematic. It is the moment when the work routine changes, either because we have reached retirement, or because age limitations prevent us from carrying out the activities to which we were accustomed.

In some cases these types of situations become truly serious. Sometimes the grandfather begins to feel that he is no longer useful and goes into strong periods of depression.. He becomes distant or unsociable. He remains alone almost all the time and in the family he begins to be seen as an incomprehensible presence.

Learn to grow old

You age as you have lived. People who have led fulfilling lives can generally accept the changes of age naturally. Those who have unresolved conflicts, unresolved frustrations and have cultivated conflictive relationships will find it more difficult when they get older.

In these last cases, lack of activity becomes a kind of detonator. It is no longer possible to distract those “to-dos” through work and daily commitments. It is also not possible to make major changes to the routine. And leisure, then, brings dissatisfaction with life to the foreground.

This situation becomes especially difficult for people who have been very active or who value productivity above all else. For some it is like dying in life. Especially if they have not cultivated habits such as reading or hobbies of interest.

Those around them and who love them see older people pale and experience contradictory feelings.. Some guilt appears when witnessing this sad condition, but at the same time helplessness arises for not being able to help them in a more effective way.

The perception of life in its facet of fatality prevails: one ages and inexorably a progressive decay appears, imposed by nature. No major changes can be made in this regard.

Although this is basically true, the fact that Yes, there are ways for grandfather and those around him to have a better quality of life.. Feeling useful and capable is one of the keys for the elderly to successfully deal with the last stage of their life.

Learn to channel leisure

Leisure is not residual time, but one of the most important dimensions of life. It is during the so-called “free time” when we have the greatest options to know ourselves, recognize ourselves and experience ourselves as integral beings. This becomes especially important in old age, when free time becomes the rule and not the exception.

The answer to what to do with free time is not the same for each person.

If we are talking about a sociable grandparent, nothing better than facilitating contact with groups of his age.. These types of communities are very common in churches. Clubs or groups for grandparents to read or exercise have also become common.

If it is a grandparent who is comfortable only with his family, or who, due to his physical ailments, does not have the facility to leave the house, The best alternative is to motivate him to develop a hobby that he can practice without much problem.. Gardening, manual and artistic work, and reading are good options.

In any case, The important thing is to design a structured routine. Time should be included for some productive activity daily. It is best that it is always done at the same time. 2 or 3 hours a day is enough. And it should include tasks that range from collaborating in the organization of some part of the house or a domestic task, to tasks that stimulate their creativity.

With an effort, which is not very great, you can help a grandparent feel useful again. This will be positively reflected in his state of mind and will bring quality and meaning to his last years of life.

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