Maintaining their independence gives elderly people a sense of purpose and promotes positivity. Independent seniors are more likely to maintain greater control over their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Below are some of the benefits of independence for older adults and what you can do to encourage your senior loved one to take on more tasks and hobbies while receiving minimal assistance.
Base Tasks on Their Abilities
For seniors who need to get things right, failing at activities could have a devastating effect on their mental health. Base your loved one’s daily duties on his or her strengths. The objective is to make life easier without putting your loved one’s health or safety at risk. When your loved one is mentally and physically capable of handling a task, he or she is more likely to complete the activity. The confidence boost can lower the odds of depression and other emotions that negatively affect quality of life. If a task is too challenging, your loved one’s odds of giving up and avoiding similar activities in the future increase.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Rocklin seniors can depend on.
Stay Positive
Your top job as a family caregiver is to protect your loved one’s safety. However, you don’t need to lecture your parent to get your point across. When your loved one does something incorrectly, look for the positive aspects of the situation. Concentrating solely on the negatives could discourage your loved one from taking on more responsibilities in the future. You can help your parent learn more by pointing out the positives and offering sincere praise. You should want to motivate your loved one, not intimidate him or her. When you stay positive, your loved one may be more open to hearing your suggestions and using the advice to complete future tasks.
Don’t Rush
Sometimes it’s less chaotic to handle tasks for your loved one, such as cooking or cleaning. While you may save a little time, you’re taking away opportunities for your parent to increase longevity and boost his or her quality of life. Don’t rush your parent, regardless of how slow he or she is going. Pushing your loved one to complete a task quickly raises the odds of mistakes, which could impact his or her self-esteem, causing him or her to feel inadequate and discouraged. You can boost your parent’s independence by stepping back and allowing him or her to finish an activity on his or her own time, not according to your standards. As your loved one ages, he or she might lose the ability to do things as quickly as in the past. However, this doesn’t mean your parent has to give up the projects completely.
When considering elder care, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
Provide Training
Older adults often give up on tasks because they don’t know what they’re doing. Advanced technology and changes in memory could combine to keep your parent from understanding how to handle a specific activity or task, regardless of how familiar it is. Your job is to teach your loved one or find someone who can. For example, if you’ve purchased smart appliances for your loved one, hire someone to come in and show him or her how to use the items. Receiving training and simplified instructions could boost your loved one’s independence.
In Rocklin, senior care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (916) 226-3737 today.