Emotional health for seniors is sometimes overlooked, since physical issues tend to be more obvious. Seniors may also hide negative emotions such as guilt or despair. Spending time with your senior loved one helps you see when he or she is facing emotional challenges. You can also use these ideas to help your loved one stay emotionally well as he or she ages.
1. Identify Physical Health Issues
In some cases, physical health issues influence how a senior feels emotionally. Chronic pain can cause seniors to dread waking up. A loss of abilities can cause seniors to feel a lack of control over their lives. Anxiety about a new symptom could cause a senior to experience emotional difficulties.
Start with a general physical to make sure there isn’t an underlying reason for your loved one’s negative emotions. For instance, hormonal fluctuations could make your parent feel sad or have mood swings.
Professional caregivers can help older adults make healthy lifestyle choices to alleviate stress and boost emotional health. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional elder care, Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults address their health issues and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
2. Help Them Find Ways to De-Stress
Many emotional issues are caused by pent-up stress and frustration. Relaxation exercises help seniors learn how to let go of their worries. Your loved one may benefit from a daily meditation session. Journaling is another option that helps seniors release their worries. Staying busy with hobbies and other fun activities serves as a distraction from stressful circumstances.
Trained caregivers can be a wonderful asset for seniors who need assistance with relaxation techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Rocklin Home Care Assistance can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks.
3. Fill Their Lives with Friends
Friendships are essential for people’s emotional health. Your loved one may develop emotional issues such as loneliness, jealousy, and resentment when spending large amounts of time alone.
The trick to this strategy is to make sure the friendships your loved one cultivates are positive. Spending time with other people with negative mindsets could influence your loved one’s mood. Seniors may benefit from friendship with a professional caregiver who knows how to bring a cheery outlook to the day, and they can also find friends who enjoy doing the same activities. Other seniors who are actively engaged are more likely to have a fresh outlook on life.
4. Provide a Sense of Purpose
Older adults need to feel important in the world around them. Your loved one can volunteer to help others and get a sense of satisfaction from knowing he or she has something to contribute. Seniors who cannot volunteer can still serve as sources of positivity for their friends and family by writing letters, sending emails, and sharing upbeat posts on social media.
5. Eliminate Daily Frustrations
Small things add up fast. Seniors who feel frustrated by their inability to accomplish daily tasks easily are more likely to have anger problems. Ask your loved one about his or her day, and encourage him or her to be honest.
If your loved one has difficulty with mobility, cooking, and other activities of daily living, you can arrange for assistance. When your loved one wakes up refreshed and knowing someone will be there to help with frustrating tasks, he or she can begin the day with a positive mindset that carries through to the evening.
Emotional wellbeing and physical health are closely related, and older adults need to focus on both to maintain a high quality of life as they age. In Rocklin, at-home 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. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.