Growing older has many psychological and social effects on seniors, including how they address their safety, health, relationships, and daily functioning. Seniors and their family caregivers need to understand these factors and learn how to respond to the accompanying changes. Below are some of the psychosocial aspects of aging.
Biological Changes
As children grow, they develop different skills, including cognitive and physical abilities. Their development continues as they grow older and reach the young adult years. As adults, people have matured and developed complex motor skills and cognitive strengths. However, aging can cause these abilities to decrease, reducing memory and negatively affecting health.
Although changes in cognitive and physical health are inevitable, the process can be slowed down, and your aging loved one can remain independent longer. Some of the ways your parent can maintain many of his or her abilities include eating healthy, managing stress, and exercising.
A home caregiver Columbus can help your parent adopt healthy habits that can prevent a variety of age-related challenges. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Societal Expectations
Expectations imposed by society can affect the aging process. For example, when older adults believe they need to live alone, their mental health could decrease when they move in with family or friends, eventually leading to emotional and physical health problems.
Help your loved one reject harmful age-related societal expectations. Explain the benefits of receiving assistance from family and friends as well as professional caregivers. When seniors realize the advantages associated with accepting help as they get older, they can continue to age in place and enjoy a high quality of life.
Genetic Factors
Your family’s medical history has an effect on your loved one’s behaviors and his or her risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, some cancers, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Therefore, your loved one should know as much as possible about his or her genetic history to develop a care plan that preserves his or her health.
Understanding the psychosocial aspects of heredity allows your family to develop strategies that boost your loved one’s skills and functioning abilities. For instance, if your parent has the gene most closely associated with Alzheimer’s, there are steps he or she can take to reduce the risk of developing the condition, preserve his or her memory, and prevent cognitive impairment.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional around-the-clock home care Columbus seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated around-the-clock caregiver.
Diminishing Abilities
Seniors need to enjoy life to the fullest because their everyday skills and abilities could be gone quickly. For instance, remembering how to cook food, ride a bicycle, and read are skills most seniors possess, but as time goes by, they could lose those abilities.
Older adults may also see a reduction in the amount of energy they have each day, so they should use it wisely. For instance, if your parent has difficulty standing for long periods, find fun hobbies and activities that can be done while sitting. This strategy can prevent your loved one from becoming bored and depressed, and it could boost his or her cognitive health.
Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them attain this goal. Families can trust Columbus in-home care experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living longer and healthier lives. For compassionate, reliable in-home care, trust the experienced professionals from Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
