When you are providing home care for seniors, you may notice that your parent, spouse or loved one has become a bit down or negative. While my grandfather was generally positive (albeit sometimes a bit frustrated by his health and mobility), my grandmother went a completely different way – she completely lost her will to live. It was heart-wrenching to watch because she used to be full of life and energy. Below are 4 ways to try to help your loved one age with grace, energy and peace.
- Physical Activity: Whether someone is mobile or not, there are many different ways to exercise. It could be a simple walk; maybe tossing a light rubber ball; whatever the activity, the senior you care for can increase their energy. My sister, who leads activities at a senior home, explains how they pantomime actions as a way to move and stretch. For example, “We’re going to the grocery store…we’re going to buckle our seatbelt..reach up and buckle it…we’re going to drive our car…first make a left turn, now a right…we’re going to reach up onto the shelf to get a box…” Simple and brilliant!
- Diet/Vitamins: Proper nutrition is extremely important for a senior’s well being (see Changing Needs in Nutrition blog). While all vitamins are essential, “the B-complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well-being” (http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm). Make sure that your loved one is taking a daily vitamin specifically made for seniors (they are formulated to over-compensate for some vitamins that tend to be low in seniors).
- Feed the Soul: Give your loved one opportunities to feed their emotional needs. Take them to church or activities, bring them to social or family gatherings, and/or give them access to books, their hobbies, etc. if at all possible.
There is no guarantee that your loved one will have a good attitude, because it really has to come from the inside. However, if you have enabled them to do these three things, you’ve really given them a great shot at enjoying their senior years.
If you are doing all you can and your loved one does not have a positive mental attitude, it’s possible that they are depressed and may benefit from either seeing a psychologist/therapist or being prescribed temporary or long-term medication for depression and/or anxiety.
If you want to become more educated on what your parent or loved one is experiencing, we offer free family/community education.
