6 Ways to Boost Self-Esteem in Older Adults

Getting older can be lonely and discouraging for some seniors. Most seniors aren’t as active as they once were, they may have fewer friendships, and it might be harder to feel good about their appearance. However, high self-esteem and confidence are key to living a happy and fulfilling life at any age. More importantly, helping your senior loved one increase and maintain his or her self-esteem can directly boost his or her physical and mental health. Here are a few simple suggestions for boosting your senior loved one’s self-esteem. 

1. Engage in Conversation

Seniors need to be surrounded by people who enjoy listening to them and talking with them. Take an active interest in your elderly relative’s life, and ask questions about his or her daily activities. You can also ask about something interesting your loved one read or heard in the news or solicit advice on an issue you may be having. Recognizing your loved one and what he or she is able to contribute will help him or her feel valued. 

2. Take Your Loved One Out

It can be difficult for seniors to get out of the house without assistance, and when they do get out, it’s often because they’re tagging along with someone who needs to run errands. Make a point to arrange special outings for you and your loved one to movie theaters, restaurants, or other places he or she enjoys.  Low self-esteem can result in mental, emotional, and physical challenges, but seniors don’t have to manage them alone. 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.

3. Suggest a Hobby

Often, seniors have to stop doing activities they love but can no longer comfortably or safely do. Suggest a new hobby like learning a new language, listening to audiobooks, painting, taking up yoga, or making easy crafts. Having a sense of purpose and accomplishment is vital to mental health. 

4. Connect Your Loved One with Groups

Meeting seniors who are going through similar life experiences can provide your loved one with support you simply can’t offer. Sharing his or her experiences and listening to others will help your loved one feel a sense of belonging and connectedness to his or her peers.  Low self-esteem is one of many components 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 homecare services. Des Moines families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ 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.

5. Connect Your Loved One with Family

In a world where technology touches nearly every aspect of our lives, there’s no reason your loved one can’t stay connected to family, both near and far. Skype, FaceTime, and Google (among others) all make it possible to chat via video with loved ones who aren’t physically present. Help your loved one learn how to use video chat and schedule face-to-face calls with grandchildren, siblings, and other relatives. 

6. Promote Independence

It can damage self-esteem when seniors are no longer able to do simple things on their own. Focus on allowing your loved one as much freedom and autonomy as possible, and encourage doing tasks independently. Always remember seniors need to feel respected and appreciated as much as anyone else. No matter what kind of personal or health-related issues they face, they can maintain a positive self-image with help and care from those around them.  Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Des Moines seniors can depend on. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your parent, give us a call at (515) 264-2438 today.