How to Provide Emotional Support for the Elderly
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!