Keeping an elderly loved one motivated to stay healthy, exercise, and participate in various activities can go a long way toward maintaining his or her overall physical and mental health, but sometimes it takes an extra push to reach the point of inspiration. If you find verbal communication is no longer effective for encouraging your loved one to stay motivated, try some of the following tips.
Make It a Group Effort
Sometimes your loved one may need a supportive friend to help while taking on daunting tasks or new challenges. For instance, if your relative is beginning a new exercise class, don’t just sit on the bench and watch. Instead, get in there and participate too. Your loved one may put forth more effort if the activity becomes a partnership.
Family caregivers need to follow healthy lifestyles too, and that involves self-care and taking time to nurture their own wellbeing. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Annapolis, MD, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Utilize Specialty Tools
Specialty tools are designed to meet the needs of those who have lost or are experiencing a decrease in their mobility and fine motor control. Utensils that remain stable despite shaky hands and jar openers that don’t require a firm grip can provide seniors with the ability to do the activities they once had no problem with. Using these tools can help your loved one feel more confident and capable of doing things independently.
Senior Home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Encourage Short Daily Walks
Staying physically active can add years to a person’s life. Encouraging your loved one to participate in even short walks around the block can promote circulation, boost overall mood, and prevent conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and strokes. Increased physical health may lead to greater energy, keeping your loved one motivated to complete daily tasks.
A trained professional caregiver can be a wonderful resource when you’re trying to help your senior loved one lead a healthier lifestyle. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Annapolis families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ 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 boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. Assisting Hands Home Care can be your trusted partner when your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging. Call us today to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.
