Seniors who feel unappreciated or think they have little to offer others may be experiencing feelings of low self-esteem, but there are ways to promote positive self-image in aging adults. Here are some strategies you can use to help your elderly loved one rebuild and maintain his or her self-esteem.
1. Ask for Advice
Mistakes from the past can be things your loved one looks back on with a sense of loss and regret. When you ask your loved one for advice about how to face similar challenges in your own life, it can show respect and contextualize his or her experience as a valuable source of wisdom.
Low self-esteem can result in mental, emotional, and physical challenges for aging adults, but seniors don’t have to manage them alone. In Anchorage, elder care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
2. Go Out Together
Seniors who have the opportunity to spend time with family members reap many benefits, and families who make a point of staying in close touch with their elderly loved ones provide a sense of being appreciated and loved. When aging adults have that type of connection, they’re more likely to maintain a healthy sense of self-worth. By taking your loved one somewhere fun and socializing with other people, you can show you’re proud to be seen with him or her and eager to enhance your relationship.
For families living in Anchorage, 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
3. Find Ways to Help Others
Helping other people can boost self-esteem, and giving back to the community provides a sense of accomplishment and pride. Churches and local groups often gather to perform various types of activities that benefit their communities. Consider taking your loved one to an event like a community trash pickup. If bending down to pick up trash is a challenge for your parent, volunteer with him or her to hand out water or trash bags.
4. Set Goals
As seniors age, they can experience a reduction in the rewards they receive for their efforts, which can lead to frustration and feelings of worthlessness. Getting older doesn’t mean aging adults have to stop trying to achieve new goals. They can still set reasonable goals and enjoy working to accomplish them. Seniors who continue working toward achieving goals have activities they can look forward to doing, which can boost their sense of optimism and provide an increased feeling of self-esteem. Try helping your loved one set realistic daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Write the goals down, make sure to celebrate the goals that are achieved, and have a sense of humor about the ones that may not be met.
5. Try Something New
Start a conversation about things your loved one has never accomplished, reviewing failures and regrets. If there’s something he or she hasn’t tried but seems like it might be doable, take on the challenge. Trying new things can create new neural pathways in the brain and help your loved one feel more confident and self-assured.
Low self-esteem is one of many things that can contribute to decreased mental and physical health in seniors. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. For more information about our flexible, customizable home care plans, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (907) 770-0907