Depression is common in older adults, but the condition is sometimes preventable. You should develop a healthy routine for your senior loved one that includes nutritious meals, purposeful activities, exercise, and excellent self-care. Continue reading to learn what your parent can do to prevent depression in the senior years
1. Get Plenty of Rest
Lack of sleep prevents the brain from removing dangerous toxins that affect mental and emotional health. Therefore, your parent should get at least eight hours of rest each night. Help your loved one find ways to prevent restlessness, such as removing background noises and bright lights while he or she is asleep. Good sleeping habits can lead to robust mental health for older adults.
2. Talk about Ways to Manage Loss
Losing a spouse, sibling, or close friend is difficult for anyone, especially a senior. These types of losses could cause seniors to worry about their own mortality instead of enjoying their golden years.
You need to talk about loss with your loved one and develop strategies together to deal with his or her emotions. For example, having annual gatherings in honor of siblings or close friends who have passed away could provide something meaningful to look forward to and lower your loved one’s anxiety levels.
Seniors who are depressed and lonely can benefit from having a compassionate professional caregiver to share their feelings with. For families living in
Des Moines, 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. Remain Independent
Experiencing physical and cognitive decline could affect your loved one’s quality of life and increase the odds of depression. Promote independence by finding respectful ways to simplify your parent’s daily activities. Encouraging your loved one to take on tasks without any assistance could boost his or her mood and stave off depression.
4. Avoid Sugary Foods
Sugar is an addictive carbohydrate seniors often crave despite the negative impact it has on mood as well as physical and cognitive skills. Seniors who don’t limit their sugar intake could lose control and consume too many products that contain sugar, such as cookies, cakes, candies, and certain beverages. The carbohydrates raise the risk of inflammation, which causes metabolism to decrease and leads to mental issues such as anger, sadness, and depression.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional
elderly home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
5. Take Up Hobbies
Too much idle time is bad for mental health. Finding fun hobbies can enhance self-esteem and boost confidence. Some of the best hobbies for older adults include volunteering, doing arts and crafts, gardening, and cooking. While it’s okay to suggest activities, you must allow your loved one to choose what makes him or her happy instead of only doing things you like.
6. Stay Physically Active
Exercise works out the body and the mind. Encourage your parent to maintain a regular exercise routine. When doing exercises that boost physical health, the body produces endorphins, which combat cortisol and other stress hormones. As a result, the exercises can lower anxiety levels and stave off depression.
In
Des Moines, homecare services 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. Give us a call today at (515) 264-2438 to learn about our flexible in-home care plans.
