3 Ways to Improve the Mood of an Aging Parent

Aging comes with challenges such as declining health and loss of independence, making seniors vulnerable to sadness and depression. Additionally, the loss of friends, a spouse and loved ones can make the most cheerful elderly individual feel grumpy and disgruntled.

Therefore, if your aging parent is sad and keeps to themselves, they need help improving their mood. However, improving your loved one's mood can be challenging, especially if you don't know the cause of their sadness.

For instance, if your aging parent feels lonely because all their friends have passed away, trying to improve their mood immediately won't work. First, they need to grieve and accept their loss before moving on to the healing process.

The home health care Lincoln NE professionals are here to share three ways you can improve the mood of your loved one.

Listen and learn

Many aging parents have low moods because they feel left out from many social settings. They might not be able to drive to see relatives. Perhaps, they have an illness that has made them bed-bound. 

It's, thus, essential to always listen to your loved ones to make them feel visible and part of the family. For example, call them whenever you have the chance and ask them questions about their childhood and their marriage. 

Listening to your elderly parents may seem trivial, but it helps in improving their mood because they can relive their happy moments from their life. If you are unable to visit them, try FaceTime, Skype or doing a Google Hangout to better communicate. 

Physical activities

Sometimes your loved one can feel a little lonely if they are cooped inside all day. Encouraging your parents to partake in activities such as walking, at home workouts, gardening outdoor photography and games is a great way to improve their mental health. 

Research shows that there is a link between your mental and physical health. Hence, an active person is always in a good state of mind and mood. If your parent has limited mobility, help them or hire an home health care Lincoln NE caregiver to help them do chair exercises. 

Companionship

Isolation and loneliness have a significant impact on low moods in older individuals. Unfortunately, many senior people prefer spending time alone since they don't want to be a burden to family members. According to a study conducted by the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), more than 40 percent of seniors say they experience loneliness regularly. 

Luckily, you can avoid this by encouraging them to join new social groups and spending more time with them. Alternatively, you can get home help for the elderly by getting a home care provider to offer your aging parent companionship when you are away.

Help your senior loved one feel a little less lonely with the help of a home health care Lincoln NE professional. Our in-home caregivers can help your loved one do physical activities, pick-up groceries and maintain their hygiene. Contact Akkase Home Health Care today to get help for the elderly living at home.