Resilience is the ability to accept and adapt to changes in life that are often challenging. For example, instead of sulking at home, a resilient person might choose to look for a new job if the company he or she works at closes. Seniors often face some of the most difficult circumstances as they age, and cultivating an attitude of resilience helps them achieve a higher state of emotional wellbeing.
Choose to Address Setbacks Rather than Give Up
When seniors face setbacks, they have two choices: they can either decide to figure out ways to handle them, or they can choose to stop caring. Resilient seniors see challenges as opportunities to use their flexible thinking skills. An example of this is a senior who decides to focus on going to therapy to rebuild his or her abilities after a stroke.
Even the most resilient senior may need a helping hand to age in place safely and comfortably. Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Frederick for the help they need. We provide high-quality respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Rebound Faster from Painful Experiences
A senior’s life can change at a moment’s notice. Wallowing in self-pity only creates prolonged emotional distress. Developing resilience means a senior can begin to feel better faster. By seeing things from a positive perspective, seniors can begin to move forward more quickly, which helps them avoid negative impacts on their emotional health. Moving forward with an optimistic perspective allows for greater personal growth.
Learn to Accept & Grow from Loss
Loss is inevitable in the senior years. Losing a loved one is the most obvious type of loss seniors face, but it isn’t the only one. A senior might permanently lose certain abilities. No longer being able to walk without assistance or being unable to remember certain things is upsetting. Resilience helps seniors see that loss is only one aspect of their lives and it could leave space for them to grow. For example, a resilient senior who has lost a loved one might begin volunteering in the community to ease his or her loneliness.
Maintain Close Social Ties
A senior who lacks resilience often ends up cranky and uninterested in socializing with others. Even the most patient people might find it difficult to spend time around someone who refuses to see the bright side of things. Learning to be resilient is a skill that helps seniors maintain their close relationships as they age. Seniors who have regular social contact are also more likely to overcome adversity, which makes this a win-win situation for their health.
For families living in Frederick, in-home care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Eating healthy and exercising are two things that are difficult to do when seniors feel like they’re not making progress in life. Staying resilient means seniors will decide they’re still going to exercise even if they can’t do their preferred workouts. Or they might choose to figure out new ways to eat healthy when they’re living with illnesses that affect their appetite. Being flexible in their thinking allows seniors to physically benefit from making the decision to do whatever it takes to overcome common challenges.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Frederick elder care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at (301) 786-5045 today.
