5 Ways to Help Older Adults Feel Valuable

Mobility limitations, fewer opportunities to socialize, and life changes that might include losing spouses, having grown children move away, and retiring are just some reasons seniors may no longer feel like they have a clear purpose. If you have an older loved one you routinely provide care for who is showing signs of not feeling useful, here are five ways you can remedy this situation. 

1. Let Them Help with Household Tasks

When caring for an aging adult, it’s easy to get into the habit of doing everything for him or her. While there are times when it makes sense to do this, look for ways your loved one can safely and effectively lend a hand with things that need to be done around the house so he or she feels productive and needed. These tasks might include: 

• Folding laundry 
• Doing light cleaning 
• Clipping coupons 
• Making grocery lists 
• Organizing drawers

Some seniors may be living with serious health issues that prevent them from performing daily tasks. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care. Des Moines, IA, Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

2. Get Them Involved with Cooking & Meal Planning

If your loved one has always enjoyed cooking, baking, and other aspects of meal preparation and planning, find ways for him or her to keep doing these things. For instance, you could plan home-prepared meals together by making a weekly menu. Your loved one may also feel useful if he or she bakes goods for a local charity, shows grandchildren how to make some of his or her favorite recipes, or grows fresh ingredients for meals in a vegetable or herb garden.  If your loved one needs help planning and preparing nutritious meals, a professional caregiver is the perfect solution. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable homecare. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

3. Encourage Them to Consider Selling Handicrafts Online

Platforms like eBay can be used by adults of all ages to sell handicrafts and other items. This is a process that could help your loved one feel useful if the money made from what’s sold is used for meaningful purposes, like making home upgrades or donating to a favorite charity. 

4. Help Them Document Their Personal Histories

Documenting personal histories can be useful because it’s a way for seniors to tell their own stories for future generations. It’s also a process that can be done gradually and involve an assortment of activities, some of which can provide an incentive for meaningful engagement while you provide care. Options include, but certainly aren’t limited to: 

• Using Story of My Life books 
• Preparing personalized scrapbooks or photo albums 
• Asking your loved one to tell family stories you record digitally

5. Seek Their Input on Family Issues or Events

Another way to make your loved one feel useful is to keep him or her involved in family situations as much as possible. This doesn’t have to be limited to serious matters involving specific family members. Your loved one will likely appreciate being asked for his or her input on things like a birthday celebration, an upcoming wedding, and summer vacation plans. Even getting involved in minor family-related matters could make your loved one feel useful and valued.   As a family caregiver who works hard to provide care for your loved one, you also need to feel valuable. Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Des Moines, IA, families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today to find out how we can help your family.