Mental health in older adults can be just as important as physical health. Happiness, safety and fulfillment don’t just improve seniors’ quality of life; they have real medical benefits like lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Aging and mental health are closely related, and good mental health even improves longevity.
But aging can be stressful. That stress builds up unless it’s addressed, resulting in ongoing anxiety in seniors.
However, in-home caregivers are one of the best sources of stress relief for seniors. By meeting seniors’ everyday needs with compassion and warmth, a caregiver can prevent stress from building up in the first place. With a trusted caregiver at their side, your loved one can approach each day with a sense of confidence and certainty.
Caregivers Reduce Anxiety in Seniors by Helping Them Stay Independent
When people don’t feel in control of their lives, they lose confidence and start to worry more. This is especially important for seniors because loss of energy and mobility brings a loss of independence as well.
Here’s the good news: A professional caregiver can help with nearly any task they’re struggling with, from bathing to cooking to running errands. Caregivers can also help them get around so they can stay active and engaged in their favorite activities.
With a professional caregiver on their side, your loved one can regain their independence—and their confidence with it.
Caregivers Help Seniors Keep Predictable Routines
When things feel out of control, people anchor themselves with routines. Daily rituals offer a sense of familiarity, stability and safety, making uncertainty a lot more manageable.
Routines are helpful for seniors because they’ve had a lifetime to build daily rituals that work for them. In fact, just following a regular schedule is one of the most calming activities for dementia patients. But aging sometimes makes old routines impossible, which leads to unease, anxiety or confusion.
A caregiver can help your loved one stick with the routines and rituals that make them feel at peace. A caregiver might hold the pencil for them so they can do their morning crossword, remind them when their favorite show is on or take them to church for weekly services.
Caregivers Provide Companionship and Access to Social Events
Humans are social creatures. We need to be around each other to feel good, and we become sad and nervous after spending too much time alone.
But the changes and barriers that elderly people face make senior isolation common. As they age, their friends and family members gradually move away or pass on. On top of that, mobility struggles can keep them away from their community.
If your loved one is feeling isolated, a caregiver can help by getting them to and from social events or setting up calls to connect with friends and family. Caregivers working with a good agency like FirstLight Home Care will also get to know them personally, becoming a trusted friend and companion who makes their everyday brighter.
Help With Exercise Reduces Anxiety in Seniors
Exercise is good for the brain as well as the heart. Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress, relieve tension and lift mood—and the more people do it, the more effective it is.
Getting exercise is challenging for seniors, but caregivers can help. By acting as your loved one’s workout or walking buddy, a caregiver can make exercise easy, safe and fun.
Caregivers can also help your loved one get to and from group exercise classes like aerobics or yoga, which give them both physical exercise and social connection. Dance is particularly good for stress relief, and there are many well-documented benefits of dancing for elderly people.
Caregivers Can Reduce Anxiety in Seniors
At FirstLight Home Care, we know that anxiety is a serious issue for seniors. That’s why our caregivers know how to talk to seniors and identify signs of stress, uncertainty and discomfort. We can also work with you to develop an anxiety management plan that meets your loved one’s unique needs.
Together, we can make your loved one’s anxiety manageable, reduce their stress and boost their confidence. To learn more about FirstLight Home Care helps with anxiety in seniors, contact us today!