How to provide emotional support to older people All people need to feel seen, heard and understood by those around them. Unfortunately, many people ignore the opinions of older people and don't really hear what they say when they speak. One of the best things you can do for your aging loved one is to actively listen to them. Unless your aging loved one is in a serious state of cognitive decline, they have the ability and the right to defend themselves. People sometimes infantilize older adults, treating them as if they were young children who can't make their own decisions.
However, older people can and should be in control of their own lives. You can show your loved one that they are valued and respected by actively listening to their wants and needs and doing everything you can to satisfy them. Recreation is an important component of older people's mental health and emotional well-being. Hobbies provide an opportunity to express yourself and a sense of pride and satisfaction at work. However, some older people may struggle to find meaningful activities on their own.
You can help your older loved one by suggesting activities you can do together. Not only does this give them an opportunity to participate in fun hobbies, but it can also be a social medium. Corporate Office 10204 Bode St Ste B Plainfield, IL 60585-9813. This outreach review can identify factors that could be modified or mitigated to improve the provision of emotional support to older adults who reside in the community. Knowledge will serve as a basis for the development of personalized interventions aimed at older adults and their caregivers. Providing emotional support requires that a person listens without judgment and demonstrates understanding by responding with empathy.
This may mean that a person has to resist the urge to try to fix things or convince someone of how they feel. Nurses must communicate effectively with clients and caregivers to develop cost-effective care plans and achieve positive outcomes for clients 129 Communication is crucial in all settings. The hospital discharge and emergency room planning processes, the admission process to an assisted living facility, the discharge process from the skilled nursing facility, and the home health care admission and discharge process are critical points of interaction where health professionals, patients and family caregivers can benefit from respectful and high-quality communication, 130 In the managed care environment, providing concrete care information along with emotional support can help spouses of frail older adults to better manage their care situation, 118. For older adults, social connection is particularly important for reducing risk factors such as social isolation and loneliness. At this stage of life, meaningful social activities can significantly improve positive mental health, satisfaction with life, and quality of life; they can also reduce depressive symptoms.
Examples of interventions include friendship-building initiatives, community and support groups, social skills training, creative arts groups, leisure and education services, and volunteer programs. The holidays can be a joyous and meaningful time for older adults, especially when their emotional needs are recognized and supported. By recognizing their feelings, encouraging social participation, honoring traditions and providing opportunities for emotional expression, we can help ensure that older people feel connected, valued and loved. Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms are the most common negative outcomes of providing care for older people and people with chronic illnesses.
Some older adults are at greater risk of depression and anxiety due to poor living conditions, poor physical health, or lack of access to quality support and services. Recognizing these emotions and providing a safe space for people to express their feelings is essential. All of these actions are incredibly useful for older adults, but it's also important to consider the emotional needs of your loved one. Emotional support can vary depending on the situation, the people involved, and cultural or social norms.
To develop an effective solution that meets the emotional support needs of older adults, it is first important to understand the factors that influence the emotional support of older adults. A significant number of elderly people living in the community do not remember receiving instructions on how to take their medications. Family members must interact with the health care system to obtain information, services and equipment, and to negotiate with family and friends to obtain and mobilize support. Promote the emotional health and well-being of older people through supportive counseling, education and promotion.
For example, it is often not easy for hospitalized elderly patients who will need post-acute care to accept the need for family help, because they consider themselves independent...
