Emotional care for the elderly
Emotional support is imperative for older patients as a vehicle for better health and is proven to aid with depression. Studies also show that nurses in an elderly home care setting fail when it comes to providing emotional support. One specific study on the subject showed that the goal of emotional support was to try and relieve the patient from their emotions so they are able to cope with everyday life.
As we begin to consider caring for ageing loved ones at home, one must consider how to manage their emotional needs in addition to their medical ones. Here are some of the main factors that add up to a winning emotional care strategy-
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Independence:
Seniors that act independently to are generally prone to a higher standard of emotional well-being. Rather than trying to do everything on their behalf, try enabling them to carry out tasks on their own, while providing a safety net in case of any possible hazardous situations. Listen carefully to an elderly person, while observing how they cope with daily activities. Help him or her continue to take responsibility for themselves by discussing their needs and intervening when necessary.
This increases their ability to overcome any obstacles that aging may cause. This independence has the added bonus of boosting self-confidence in seniors, and in turn, their emotional well-being
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Social Interaction:
It’s important for senior citizens to maintain contact with their friends and family. Encouraging visits from more young family members, like grandchildren, is a great way to keep them engaged. Turning them on to technology like the internet and social media makes this all the more convenient, but also stimulates their minds in the pursuit of learning something new.
The mental and emotional stimulation from interacting with their grandchildren goes a long way in ensuring that seniors enjoy life and cope with the stress of aging. It’s important to ensure that they enjoy visits from children as it can easily turn into babysitting; which carries the potential to cause more stress, rather than relieving it.
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Safety & Living Arrangements:
Historically, most people prefer that their aging loved one live with them, but an increasing number of elders prefer to live independently. Looking at and deciding how and where elderly parents live is crucial to ensuring their well-being. The most important factors have to do with who they live with and their proximity from you or other family.
If they choose to live alone and not in a facility, you may want to consider hiring a caregiver to help them around the house as well as keeping them company and accompanying them on outings. Senior citizens are prone to anxiety and stress, especially if they live alone or have mobility issues.
Maintain a positive outlook with sufficient measures to dissuade and prevent intrusion. Arrange for the installation of secure barriers, a spy-hole in the door, or a doorbell camera to minimize the risk of stranger danger. In addition to having a security system and an emergency buttons that call for assistance, one can also invest in fall-detection devices and wearables to track their conditions in real-time.