Strategies For Improving The Health Of Older Adults With Chronic Illnesses.
American writer and poet Gertrude Stein once said, “We are always the same age inside.” I could not agree more and if we could somehow remember that in our daily perspectives, it would make family caregiving a little easier and chronic illness selfcare, significantly more successful.
Among the myriad of wonderful ideas available to caregivers for coping with the care of a loved one, some strategies that can influence the attitude of care recipients are often neglected. One strategy, simply put, is cultivating a more positive attitude towards aging. This can have a profound effect on the health of a care recipient.
Many older adults have bought into the notion that they themselves are no longer useful and are a burden to others. As a result, many older adults make little attempt to keep themselves healthy and active. After all, they are getting closer to the end of their lives and have no desire to try new things, to challenge themselves, or to eat or exercise properly.
There is a great deal of research that demonstrates that individuals can learn, retain memory and be actively involved in business and their community. A lack of physical exercise, social involvement and mental stimulation in older Americans often leads to deterioration of minds and their bodies. The older person’s negative attitude towards aging can become self-fulfilling.
A lack of social stimulation can also lead to poor mental health. Having an interest in something not only stimulates an older person’s mind but also creates a better mental attitude which often results in better health. There is empirical evidence that using one’s brain may prevent dementia in older age.
My top four suggestions that might help caregivers improve the health of an aging loved one suffering from chronic medical afflictions, depression, or debilitating physical challenges are what I call the 4Ps of family caregiving.
PLANTS & PETS: Allow your care recipient to care for plants and pets even if he/she suffers from dementia. Many studies have demonstrated that Alzheimer’s patients respond well to this therapy.
PLAY & PERSPECTIVES: Engage your care recipient in playing mentally challenging and stimulating games (sudoku, crosswords, trivia, card games, memory games etc.), music, singing and playing of an instrument. When feasible, explore opportunities to reflect on accomplishments and history. Cultivating a healthy perspective about the natural process of aging and exploring opportunities for volunteer work at home (many volunteer organizations can allow disabled folks at home to be involved through their computer and the Internet) will help your care recipient to experience an improved sense of self and wellbeing. The life of a family caregiver is interlaced with the life of the care recipient so when one is doing better so is the other and vice versa.
For other caregiving resources, please join me every second Monday of the month for the free teleseminar titled; Your May Have Parkinson’s But Parkinson’s Does Not Have To Have You. Connect with me at www.CaregiverReliefNetwork.com or www.ElderCareandCaregivingNetwork.com or call 855-942-9933.
