Understanding communication and emotional health
Emotional health is important part of caregiving. Are you having problems with the emotional side of caregiving? Check out my book on “HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CONQUER THINKING & FEELING“. There’s more to caregiving than just being a caregiver. As a family caregiver, it is essential to know how to communicate with your loved ones. Emotional health is important for all age groups and even more so for the elderly population. Your aging loved one is more likely to experience:
- loneliness
- Isolation
- Anxiety
- And other similar issues.
While understanding the basis of emotional health. It is important to acknowledge the various ways through which we can take control over it.
It can be difficult to attend to your loved one with emotional problems, but it’s not impossible. With the right knowledge, you can do this. Don’t forget about taking care of you and keeping your business going while you are caregiving. I’m here to assist you on this journey,
Understanding mental health in our loved ones
We must remember that poor emotional health or mental health problems are not a normal part of aging. This further signifies that poor emotional health is not inevitable. And can use the following preventive measures to help with emotional health.
Several factors have an impact on the emotional well being of our loved one. These include:
- Relationships
- Physical health
- Discrimination
- Participation in activities
- Financial issues
The two most common forms of mental health problems have are depression and dementia. While the depression type explains the reason behind:
- Gloomy days
- Bad mood
- Sadness
- And lack of interest in almost everything
The other type, dementia deals with forgetfulness.
Symptoms defining declining emotional health
As our loved ones age, we are bound to notice some changes in their emotional health. While some of the changes are natural. There are some changes like persistent memory loss or cognitive changes, which can signal a serious problem. Here are certain signs, that will help you identify the declining emotional health of your loved ones:
- Being sad or depressed for reasons, that are not apparent to you (children/caregivers)
- Difficulty in maintaining a clean home
- Forgetfulness / memory loss
- Disorientation and facing problems with concentration
- A decrease in decision-making ability
- Loss of interest in social life
- Loss of interest in activities that your loved ones used to once enjoy
- Difficulty in maintaining finances
- Changes in appetite
- Unexplained fatigue, constant feeling of tiredness
- Thoughts of suicide, suicidal tendency
All the above-mentioned signs and symptoms sum up the signs of declining emotional health. If you happen to notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms in your loved ones, then it’s high time you seek help!! Taking medical advice will help a lot. And after that, your loved ones would enjoy 24×7 care, to prevent them from taking any drastic step.
Ways to improve emotional health
A busy brain is a happier brain. Our loved ones may feel lonely or depressed. Since at this age they have completed many of their responsibilities and are now retired, and struggling to keep themselves busy. Staying active, busy, becomes difficult as one age. And loneliness slowly creeps in, significantly affecting the emotional health of our loved ones. However, there are various ways through which we can help our loved ones, drive away from the blues from their life.
Tell them they are not alone
Statistics have shown that as high as 6.5 million Americans suffer from mental health problems, such as depression. Furthermore, it was also studied that, seniors who live independently and can manage all tasks on their own. Run a lower risk of suffering from depression and other related conditions.
Exercise
This may sound a little weird for improving emotional health. But staying active and moving as much as possible, has impeccable benefits on both the body and mind.
Socialize and friends
Socializing with family or friends is another great way to drive away depression. Attending family gatherings, going out with friends, and having a social life. All can have many benefits for the mind.
Whom should I ask for help?
According to the United States Census Bureau, about 56 million Americans, would be 65 years and above by the year 2020. And by the year 2050, the number is to reach 84 million. Such statistics show a rise in need of home care services. As the majority of the elderly who age beyond 80–85 years, would become frail and would need help for their everyday tasks. Moreover, as parents age, children get busier with each passing day. Making it very difficult for them to take care of their parents. Also, elderly parents are quite vulnerable at this point in life. Giving in to increasing ailments, that make them both physically and mentally weak. In such cases, it does get very important, to arrange for some form of in-home care for our parents.
It is understandable, that if you are a working professional, or have a business to take care of, or are a single child to your parents. Then it can become very difficult to care for your loved ones. Overseeing this can cause you to stress because you can’t be in 2 places at one time. Taking care of your business and taking care of your loved one. Look into hiring some help. This will give you the opportunity to get some rest and also make sure your loved one is properly cared for.
Or maybe you want to spend more time with your loved one while taking a break from some of the redundant business tasks like sending out emails, returning calls, or organizing files. Let’s chat about how I can be of service to you so you can take care of your business and your loved one.
Conclusion
Finally, together we can help your parents to come out of the loneliness and help them enjoy their life to the fullest. I do understand, that your busy schedule may not always allow you to spend quality time with your parents. And for that, I can assure you that my twenty-five years of experience can offer the best of services to you and your parents.
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