How to Help Your Elderly Loved One with Their Mental Health

Is your elderly loved one struggling with their mental health? Maybe they have a mental health diagnosis or they may not. Either way, it is important that anyone with mental health issues gets the help that they need. Whether your elderly loved one is experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, or any range of other mental health issues, you should do all that you can to help find them the relief and treatment they need.

Elder Care in Hampton Bays NY: Senior Mental Health

Connecting

Many elderly adults suffer from anxiety, depression, and stress. While they could use a wide range of treatments to help them, they still need people to connect with them. It is very important for elderly adults to connect with other people in their life. If they aren’t connecting with loved ones and friends, this is only going to lead to isolating and worsening of their mental health, as well. You should do your best to keep in touch with your elderly loved one by email, phone, video chats, or in any other way possible. If your elderly loved one still isn’t feeling the greatest, you should encourage them to take up a hobby that involves communicating with others.

Exercising

Another way that you can help your elderly loved one out with their mental health is by encouraging them to exercise regularly. Research shows that exercising can help the body and the mind together. It can help to improve various mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Many people have noted that meditation exercises can be the best for improving mental health. Some of these exercises include tai chi and yoga.

Change of Scenery and Fresh Air

If your elderly loved one is having a bad day when it comes to their mental health, you should encourage them to get a change of scenery and some fresh air. They can go outside for a few hours or walk up and down their road. You can see if their home care provider would be willing to just take them for a drive. They don’t have to get out of the car, just drive someplace for that change of scenery. Research does show that fresh air can have tremendous positive effects on someone’s mental health.

If your elderly loved one has been experiencing any range of mental health issues, specifically depression, anxiety, or high-stress levels, there are ways that you can help them to start feeling better. With the tips above, your elderly loved one could see major improvements in their mental health. However, it is important to keep in mind that if your elderly loved one continues struggling, you should have them see their doctor.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Senior Care in Bridgehampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.

Sources
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Helpguide.org
Headtohealth.gov.au