Archive for November 2021

As the world becomes more and more technologically advanced, it’s become easier for many people to feel estranged. This is especially true for the elderly, who often live in an entirely different world from those around them. 

As such, emotional support has become an important part of their well-being. Let’s explore some ways to provide emotional support to seniors. This can be useful to you, whether you work in home care in Studio City or elsewhere, or wish to be of greater help to your aging relatives.  

What are the emotional needs of an elderly person?

Regardless of age, we all want to have a sense of control of our lives. The lack of control is what makes elderly people more vulnerable. They often feel lonely, depressed, and abandoned. They struggle with the following three basic emotional needs: 

• Safety and security. Everyday life of elderly becomes full of risks and fears. They become afraid of falling, going out, walking, illness. 
• Connection. They can lose touch with their loved ones, their interests, and what’s going on in the world, and feel like nothing matters. This can lead to boredom and depression.
• Autonomy. The fact that they would need to rely on someone else for even the basic daily errands can affect their sense of independence. 

Living in a world of fear, where nothing makes much sense, and where you don’t have much control over your life, isn’t a good place to be. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the suffering and make things better. 

Why is emotional support important for the elderly?

With appropriate emotional support, everything else becomes easier. Seniors that have someone to aid them with compassion, receive the following advantages: 

• Improved confidence and self-esteem. 
• Sense of belonging 
• Greater resilience to stress
• Improved overall health and well-being, even when dealing with physical or mental impairment

The person who provides emotional support can become an important cornerstone that can turn things for the better. They can restore the feeling of companionship and make the elderly feel like they still have a role to play.

How can we care for the elderly emotional needs?

Experienced caregivers know the right approach to cater to the emotional needs of the elderly. Follow these tips in order to provide adequate support in times of need: 

1. Acceptance and reassurance

Be a good, active, and engaged listener. This means that you should take their feedback seriously and implement changes to make their environment less stressful. Dispel their worries by providing adequate equipment. For instance, you can install safety equipment or make their car rides more comfortable. Most importantly, create realistic plans to make their life easier.

2. Show compassion

Accept negative and positive emotions with open arms and show that you care. The fact that you’re there for them is of immense value, as they will know that their point of view is acknowledged. 

3. Promote recreational activities

Make sure that your senior has a plan for each day, and activities to look forward to. For instance, they can take a stroll in the park, visit a local library, engage in light exercise, or visit a local resort. This will bring back a part of their confidence and self-esteem and benefit their physical health. 

4. Help them connect

Seniors can still feel like a useful part of their family and neighborhood if you help them participate. For instance, you can encourage them to volunteer at a local event in Studio City and the vicinity, or take them to family gatherings where they can reconnect with their loved ones. Encourage them to create new memories with their relatives and friends. 

Who offers professional home care in Studio City, CA, and beyond? 

When your elderly relatives need adequate support in everyday functioning, you shouldn’t cut corners. Of course, nursery homes have been a traditional option, but in-home assistance has many advantages. When you need versed professionals that cater to all needs, A Better Way in Home Care is at your fingertips. 

You can count on us to provide help with day-to-day activities that preserve the quality of life and benefit the health of your aging loved ones. Our caregivers will also help with some minor housekeeping tasks, water the plants, feed the pets, and drive your elderly to doctor appointments, or anywhere else in Los Angeles, if necessary. 

Call us today to see what we can offer and we’ll happily match you with the best caregiver!

Old age comes with many challenges, both physical and emotional. While many families resort to sending their elderly to a nursing home. However, this isn’t necessarily the best option, as it comes with risks of isolation, loss of autonomy, and disease. 

On the contrary, there are many benefits of aging in place, which can restore and keep your elderly relatives feeling independent for a longer time. You might consider hiring reliable homecare in Studio City and the vicinity. Read on to learn how to handle low self-esteem in the elderly and how to empower them. 

What causes low self-esteem in elderly people?

There is often a feeling of isolation and abandonment among the elderly, as well as a notion of not being useful anymore. You no longer have a role to play and might feel like a burden.  One reason why seniors have low self-esteem lies in unfulfilled emotional needs, which have to be addressed properly. 

Another reason is a lack of control or loss of competence. This is in part due to physiological changes, but most importantly, due to a change of family dynamic. Bereavement, existential crisis, loss of connection, all contribute to diminishing self-esteem. 

How do you build confidence in the elderly?

Even with professional assistance for your elderly loved ones, they can still struggle with self-esteem and lack of confidence. This is why an experienced and compassionate caregiver should do the following:

• Encourage social connections
• Fight negative stereotypes about aging or disability
• Keep them updated on the news and events in the world
• Make them feel like an active participant in the conversation
• Ask for their advice and guidance
• Show compassion and understanding

Preserving the notion of being confident in one’s mental and physical ability. This encourages the feeling of inner strength, as they are encouraged to face potential challenges with a greater sense of optimism. 

How can we help the elderly maintain independence?

By applying the above tips, you may see a boost in confidence in your elderly relatives. However, maintaining and encouraging independence in seniors requires that you make some changes in their everyday routine and environment. Here are five tips on how to achieve this: 

1. Safety first 

This primarily means making their immediate surroundings more accessible. This involves preventing falls and accidents around the house. Also, remove unnecessary physical boundaries and mind to cover rigid corners. Consider installing handles in the bathroom and bedroom, and other safety equipment. Finally, you can make their access to the car more comfortable and safe.

2. Involvement in everyday activities

Seniors have a say in their day-to-day decisions. Don’t push them into doing something they would rather skip or postpone for another day. This will preserve their sense of autonomy on a deeper level. It’s vital for them to feel like an active participant in their life, not just a spectator.  

3. Encourage physical activity 

Mild exercise should become a daily routine, as it brings many benefits. Of course, the routine needs to be adjusted to the general health condition and follow the safety guidelines. This can be a walk, or stretching, or mild aerobic activity. 

4. Keep the mind stimulated

To combat the risk of cognitive impairment and memory loss, the best option is to keep the mind occupied. This can mean a lot of things: puzzle solving, playing chess, cards, or dominoes, reading books, or learning a new language. This helps the brain stay active and make new connections, and can cause better general health status and longer life expectancy.  

5. Support their social life

Make sure that they don’t skip family gatherings or get-togethers with friends. Also, don’t forget to celebrate important milestones. Make sure they attend or host birthday parties, if possible. Go to meetings, visit public and community events. All of this can greatly enrich the everyday life of seniors. 

Where can I hire professional homecare in Studio City, CA?

Whether your senior relatives live in Studio City or anywhere else along Ventura Freeway, here at A Better Way in Home Care, we have you covered. We can refer you to experienced caregivers who will be able to provide assistance in day-to-day functioning. The assistance can include helping your senior relatives dress, bathe, prepare a meal, drive them safely to the doctor or other appointments, minor housekeeping tasks, taking care of pets and plants, and so on. 

Contact us today to talk about what your needs are so that we can refer the perfect Caregiver!