The Emotional Effects of Aging: Ways to Provide Support

Families often focus on seniors’ physical needs, worrying about where they live and the quality of care they receive. Often, however, they overlook the seniors’ emotional well-being. Aging has many emotional effects that can lead to stress and anxiety.

Seniors residing in assisted living, those living at home, and those living with family members all experience these emotional effects. They may be struggling with getting older, have undergone significant changes in their lives, and are losing friends and spouses. Families must consider emotional aging when working with senior loved ones.

How Family Members Can Help

Family members should help seniors cope with these age-related emotional effects. Research shows that social support will reduce these individuals’ stress and anxiety and help them become more optimistic about life. Seniors need to be engaged in activities and experiences that will strengthen their social connections and remind them that they are loved and valued.

Why Seniors Often Struggle

Loneliness, depression, and other mental health issues remain common among individuals over the age of 65. Families often assume this is just a normal part of the aging process, but it is not.

Health problems may contribute to loneliness and depression. Seniors often lack social support. Unfortunately, individuals can experience this loneliness and depression even when they are around other people. They may struggle with losing independence and question their identity and place in life today.

Providing Emotional Support to Seniors

Families can do many things to help seniors who are struggling emotionally. The goal is to help them feel joy once again. They need to feel they have meaning and a purpose in life. Individuals who feel a sense of purpose and meaning live longer and are healthier. They know they still have a role to play in the lives of others.

Help them plan for the future, so they have something to look forward to. Family members must follow through when making these plans with a loved one and look for activities to get them out and about. Seniors often like to reminisce about their younger years, so consider taking them places they went to when they were younger. Nostalgia has been shown to make a person happy, content, and grateful. They remember that they had meaningful experiences in the past and will do so again.

If the seniors cannot get out, consider making a scrapbook with them so they can reminisce through pictures and share memories. Each story is a part of their legacy, and they will appreciate remembering that. They will also feel valued, as the family wants this information to be shared with future generations.

Help them find a hobby, as hobbies are mood boosters. This hobby will help them engage with others socially and improve their physical health or mental acuity. Hobbies can spark their passion and creativity.

Consider finding a support group the senior can join. They will be surrounded by peers going through similar challenges, and these individuals will be empathetic because they are in the same situation.

Family members must acknowledge the senior’s feelings and let this individual know they have support when needed. Ask the seniors what support they need and explain that this is new to the family. Working together will ensure the senior knows that they have help. They need to communicate their needs so everyone is on the same page and can provide the proper support.

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Mylarin Qynthoril

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