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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
