Skip to main content

An Often Overlooked Aspect of Senior Care: Preserving Purpose and Meaning

“Hold on – let me help.”

“Don’t over-exert yourself!”

“You can just sit here and rest; I’ll handle that.”

How many times have we made statements like these to seniors, certainly with only the best of intentions? We want to do whatever is possible in an effort to help our aging loved ones, to keep them safe and to look after them in the same way they took care of us when we were younger. Nonetheless, there is a concealed threat in trying to do too much for seniors and denying them of the chance to do as much as possible independently – the danger of harming their self-assurance and sense of purpose and meaning in life.

Take, for example, an elderly gentleman who devoted his whole life to taking care of his family, and just recently has progressed into the beginning phase of dementia. Because he has continuously self-identified as a provider, being reliant on someone else to provide for him can be very difficult and even feel demeaning. It is important to help him uphold the feeling of being needed by others, and there are various methods to accomplish just that. Try these recommendations from Heaven at Home Senior Care:

  • Obtain advice. Being granted the opportunity to share insight and wisdom is a wonderful enhancement to an older person’s self-regard, and there is definitely a lot we can learn from older individuals. Think of small ways throughout the day to request the older person’s guidance on how to make a perfect pot roast, how to fix the draft coming in under the front door, how to comfort a cranky toddler, etc.
  • Find hands-on assistance. As in-home caregivers, it is our responsibility to assist older adults with assorted needs, but we also realize the value of allowing seniors the opportunity to carry out helpful responsibilities too. It doesn’t have to be a complicated task to maintain the sense of being needed. Take note of the senior’s cognitive and physical limitations, and ask for his/her help appropriately. For example, a person who is in a wheelchair can sit at the table and assist with baking and cooking related tasks, polish silverware, or sort hardware in a toolbox.
  • Verbally show your respect. While you may presume the senior understands how you feel, it’s a phenomenal feeling to be told how much we mean to one another. Take time to point out specific ways the older individual has assisted you in some manner and how much you value that help. This may include learning to drive a car, parenting techniques, or the ability to draw or paint or carve wood. Be honest in your compliments, and say them often, sincerely, and from your heart.

Trained in-home caregivers, such as the professionals at Heaven at Home Senior Care, are adept in sustaining the sensitive balance between providing care for older individuals and boosting their sense of purpose and meaning. Contact us at (940) 380-0500 to learn more about options for senior care in Denton, view our full service area, or to schedule a free in-home evaluation for your senior loved one.

The post An Often Overlooked Aspect of Senior Care: Preserving Purpose and Meaning appeared first on Heaven at Home Senior Care.



from Heaven at Home Senior Care https://ift.tt/2DGRsMi
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per...
Post a Comment
Read more