Some seniors are at risk for feeling negative emotions such as depression and loneliness, which can lead to other serious health concerns. It’s important to motivate aging adults to take a more positive approach to life so they can remain emotionally healthy. Here are some tips to help your aging loved one maintain a positive mental attitude.
Support the Creation of New Goals
Once their professional lives have come to an end and their children have grown up, it can be challenging for many seniors to set new goals. Creating goals and then following through with them gives seniors short-term motivation and a long-term vision for their future. Some goals that might help your loved one gain a positive mental attitude include writing a book, starting a nonprofit, finishing a painting, or learning the basics of a new language.
Turn Off the News
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay informed, but constantly listening to negative stories can quickly alter the way we view the world around us. Many news corporations thrive on stories that cover only the worst parts of the human experience. If your loved one has been glued to the television and it’s negatively impacting his or her happiness, it might be time to talk about limiting his or her exposure to the news or switching to other media, such as newspapers or magazines.
Help Your Parent Use Social Media
Social media has a few downsides, but it can be an overwhelmingly positive tool for older adults. Even if using social media is a foreign concept to your loved one, it shouldn’t take long for him or her to get the hang of using these types of websites and apps. These platforms can give your loved one the ability to keep in touch with family members, peruse old photos, and even find friends from his or her past.
Seniors with cognitive impairment due to conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s may need supervision when they use social media to avoid scams that target elderly people. Seniors with Alzheimer’s have much to gain when their families opt for professional Alzheimer’s care. Arlington families can rely on compassionate and dedicated caregivers to help their elderly loved ones manage the various challenges of Alzheimer’s disease so they can enjoy a higher quality of life.
Encourage Healthy Dietary Habits
A 2011 study published in the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science found that diet is one of the most important factors when it comes to happiness. Test subjects who ate mostly processed foods that were high in sugar had much higher rates of depression, anxiety, and general lethargy. According to this particular study, some of the most beneficial foods for boosting mood include fresh fish, turkey, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, and moderate amounts of dark chocolate.
A home caregiver can help your loved one plan and prepare nutritious meals. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Promote Healthy Hobbies
Pursuing favorite pastimes can reinforce self-worth and make your loved one feel competent. Enjoyable activities can relieve stress, and hobbies that spark enthusiasm and creativity encourage an interest in living in the present moment. Pursuits that involve exercise can make your loved one get more physically active. By sharing passions with like-minded folks, your loved one can strengthen relationships and ease loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Interacting with others stimulates the intellect and keeps the mind sharp.
Maintaining a positive mental attitude may be difficult for some seniors, but sometimes the right motivation can help. In Arlington, home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. Call us at (703) 988-1800 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality home care services.
