Imagine your health and physical ability was in such decline that you had to stop doing some or many of the things you loved. What do you think would happen to your self-esteem? Your confidence? Usually, it is going to decline, isn’t it? Perhaps that’s what happens for so many aging men and women who face increasing challenges with age.
An elderly person who lives at home alone or with family might no longer be able to go to the park by themselves, to go shopping on their own, or even prepare a meal safely. They may depend on others for assistance. When that happens, they can feel helpless. That is certainly going to deteriorate their confidence even more.
While most people assume assisted living is something for full-time, a permanent, long-term decision and commitment, quality assisted living facilities do provide respite care options. Not all of them do, but for those that provide this option, it means aging seniors can take advantage of the benefits assisted living offers, including activities, safe living during the overnight hours, or even for a few days during the week or a couple of weeks, which can boost self-esteem.
What kind of activities are available at assisted living?
Assisted Living Theodore, Al: Improve Confidence and Esteem
Every assisted living facility is different, so it’s important not to conflate all of them as being the same. You may find wonderful arts and crafts activities taking place on a regular basis at one facility where another may focus on music, exercise and fitness, cooking, or something else.
That’s why it is important to contact an assisted living facility directly and find out not only what types of respite care services they offer, but also what kind of activities are available.
An aging person may realize that one specific assisted living community does offer respite care for evening, day time visits, short-term stays, and so on, but not the type of activities or hobbies or even entertainment that individual enjoys. Whereas, another facility may have those activities, but not the type of respite care the senior would prefer.
How to encourage an aging senior to become more active?
Many family members, including or perhaps especially adult children who become de facto caregivers for these individuals as they age, may want to talk about assisted living with these seniors, but what if they are resigned to some notion the best years of their life are well behind them?
The most important thing is to focus on activities this senior or other individual would enjoy doing. Most adult children will have a pretty good idea of what types of activities are still important to their elderly mother, father, grandparent, or other loved one.
Focus on those types of activities, find an assisted living community in the area that encourages these, and then discover what type of respite care services they may offer. This is a great way to broach the topic about assisted living with an aging senior who may be a little hesitant or even resistant at first.
About Cindy Johnson
Follow Us!