It’s all too easy to forget mental health when thinking about elderly care. Newbury Park, CA and Ventura County families with elderly loved ones should be on the lookout for signs of poor mental health including low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and a sense of giving up. When these signs materialize it’s important to encourage frequent activity and a positive outlook. The problem is that family members can’t always be there every moment of the day to encourage mental, physical, and social stimulation for their elderly loved ones. Many families have found that the best solution is regular visits from Home Instead’s team of trained, screened, and bonded CAREGiversSM who provide assistance with daily activities and elderly companion care. Newbury Park, CA, and Ventura County families can easily incorporate mental health strategies into their elderly care plan with the right professional help. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Watch Out for Signs of Poor Mental Health
People don’t always come out and say that they’re struggling with loneliness, depression, or other mental health issues. This is true at any age. That’s why it’s important to watch out for signs that your elderly loved one is feeling lonely, defeated, or resigned from life. There are a few questions you can ask yourself: Do they see other people or leave the house on a regular basis? Do they have hobbies, or do they participate in many activities such as volunteering or attending community classes? Do they seem to have a purpose for getting out of bed in the morning? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it’s a good idea to start encouraging more activity and stimulation to give your loved one that sense of purpose. However, it’s important to avoid being condescending or controlling in the process. This is another benefit of enlisting Home Instead’s elderly companion services. Newbury Park, CA families can rely on an outside caregiver to provide support and encouragement with a friendly face and none of the personal history that can sometimes make these conversations awkward.
Solutions to Increase Mental, Physical, and Social Stimulation
Activities that increase mental, physical, and social stimulation can help prevent feelings of loneliness and depression for older people. It’s easy for people to fall into a routine of watching TV or surfing the Internet every day after they’ve retired, kids have moved away, and they no longer have responsibilities every day, but there are plenty of other ways to fill the day. With a CAREGiver to provide accompaniment and transportation, there’s no excuse for wasting the days away staring at a screen. To get out of the house, seniors can do volunteer work, socialize with other seniors, attend adult education classes, or even complete a college degree. Those with limited mobility can still participate in stimulating activities at home, such as games, puzzles, crafts, scrapbooking, drawing or painting, genealogy research, memoir writing, and other mentally challenging pursuits.
With in-home care, families can easily incorporate mental health strategies into their senior care plan, without having to give up and search for “elderly homes near me.” Newbury Park, CA and Ventura County families can count on Home Instead to take their loved ones’ mental health needs into consideration when creating and implementing an in-home care plan. Call (805) 370-0303 or contact us online today to learn more.
