Life can become difficult when you reach a certain age, and it is not nice seeing an elderly relative lose their enthusiasm and confidence as they get older. A combination of mobility issues and feeling increasingly isolated can have a snowball effect on a person’s ability to live as full a life as possible.
However, there are ways for your elderly relative to regain their confidence, improve their mood and live their life to it’s fullest. Here are some tips.
Encourage them to be Social
Meeting people, having conversations and staying in touch with old friends are all very beneficial to a person’s health. Conversation is good cognitive stimulation while seeing old friends and meeting new people can be good mood lifter.
Teach them to Use the Internet
This is another good mental work-out while it has many practical uses. Having access to the internet will make communication easier between your elderly relative and family and friends. With ‘silver surfers’ recognised as a growing target audience for businesses there are devices designed especially for the over-65s making browsing the web easier than ever for the older generations.
Exercise is Good for Mood
There are plenty of exercise classes aimed at people who are no longer as nimble as they used to be. Gentle yoga, armchair aerobics and water aerobics classes are ran in most local areas and are also good from a social point of view as well as fitness. A healthy body can also improve someone’s mood while a weekly fitness class built into someone’s routine can provide a regular event for a person to look forward to.
Trips Out
In order to build confidence and provide a change of scenery, trips out work wonders for elderly people who are otherwise confined to the same surroundings. Such days out will give them something to talk about with their friends and encourage them by making new memories. After all, you don’t want your parents or grandparents stuck at home using a home lift for support around the house when they could be out and about instead.
Joining Clubs
Care homes such as those provided by Extra Care are great places for clubs, events and regular activities. If you elderly relative is not in a care home, there are usually seniors clubs in most local community. As well as these clubs, reading clubs, sewing groups, there are also the aforementioned exercise classes to join.
Get Other Family Members to Visit
Having different friends and family members regularly visit will cheer up an elderly person who may otherwise feel isolated.
Introduce them to New Hobbies
Hobbies, especially those which are creative, instil a sense of worth and satisfaction. Buy your elderly relative a paint by number kit (there are kits aimed at adults as well as juniors), introduce them to poetry writing or sewing as see them reap the benefits.
