The most important thing you can do as a family caregiver is to respect your senior loved one and listen to his or her thoughts and opinions. Although you’re providing care for your parent, you don’t have control over his or her life. You’re there to make his or her days less challenging and more enjoyable. Continue reading to learn why adults need to maintain a sense of dignity in their senior years.
Provides Motivation for Healthier Behavior
When seniors know their worth, they may try harder despite their weaknesses. Honor your parent, and never dismiss his or her wishes. Taking your loved one seriously may motivate him or her to adopt healthy habits and follow the recommendations of his or her primary care physician. Your parent could get up feeling great and continue working on goals that increase longevity and boost quality of life, all because he or she has self-worth. Encourage your siblings and other family members to show your loved one respect, regardless of his or her current health conditions or limitations.
A professional caregiver can offer support while treating your parent with the dignity he or she deserves. When considering senior care, Waterloo, ON, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
Reduces the Odds of Combativeness
A senior’s perceived loss of dignity could have severe consequences, including behavioral challenges. Therefore, you need to do everything possible to uplift your loved one and make him or her feel important. A sense of dignity can enhance your parent’s mood and lower the risk of agitation and aggression. Many seniors lash out because they’re uncomfortable. In this instance, comfort applies to emotional health. If you and other caregivers don’t treat your parent with respect, he or she is more likely to lash out verbally or physically. However, maintaining a sense of dignity can make your loved one feel happy, appreciated, and loved.
Promotes Socialization
Older adults who maintain a sense of dignity understand they’re important to their families and look forward to social gatherings, especially time spent with their grandchildren. They may eagerly anticipate community events because they can surround themselves with individuals who want to hear their stories and foster connections. If your parent gets a sense that other people value his or her opinions, he or she is less likely to become isolated. Instead, he or she can socialize more, which reduces the odds of boredom and loneliness.
For families living in Waterloo, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Increases Safety
When seniors know their value, they’re likely to want to do everything possible to protect themselves, including letting go of their fears and doubts. When this happens, they may have greater confidence in their abilities to move around the home or attend exercise classes. Concern about falling when navigating the house or working out at the gym may decrease, which could lower the risk of slips, falls, and other accidents. To help your parent maintain a sense of dignity, speak to him or her with respect and encourage independence, as these are things that can boost emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality home care service. Trust Home Care Assistance to help your elderly loved one age in place safely and comfortably. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (519) 954-2111 to learn about the high quality of our in-home senior care.