Seniors with challenging health conditions need encouragement from their families and caregivers. Words of encouragement motivate aging parents to push themselves harder and achieve more of their goals. Families that learn how positive the impact of these encouragements is on their aging parents look for more ways to influence their loved ones to live a better life.
Patience Is a Must
Family and caregivers must practice patience when managing an aging senior’s care. Encouraging words are helpful when the senior is facing difficulties or unexpected changes in their lives. The elderly loved one becomes frustrated and maybe a little angry about these changes, and loved ones must be more patient and careful with their words.
Caregivers working in assisted living understand how to encourage residents to face challenges and find solutions by exhibiting some patience. This virtue helps the caregivers motivate the residents to push forward with daily tasks and improve their quality of life.
Asking Questions Encourages Positive Conversations
A way to uplift seniors is to ask them questions and encourage positive conversations, and the seniors are more likely to start discussions about their life experiences. Many seniors are uplifted by sharing their stories and telling others about what their lives were like when they were younger, and these shared memories encourage others around these seniors.
In a senior living community, aging seniors get a chance to share their stories with new friends and neighbors. These opportunities motivate others to follow some of their life decisions and improve their quality of life.
Encourage Without Causing Arguments
Caregivers offer encouragement without creating conflict or arguments, and seniors thrive in calmer environments. Seniors experience setbacks when facing cognitive decline, and conflicts aren’t the way to encourage the seniors to keep trying.
Families may become frustrated when explaining concepts to their aging parent with dementia. However, if their roles were reversed, the family could see why positivity and calmer environments present better opportunities. In a senior living community in Los Angeles, CA, seniors get the encouragement they need without conflicts or arguments.
Never Talk Down to the Senior Loved Ones
Families and caregivers must keep in mind that, regardless of the senior’s level of cognitive decline, no one should ever talk down to the seniors or belittle them. Even in the later stages of dementia, seniors need respect and understanding from their loved ones and caregivers.
The loved ones must address the seniors with respect and encouragement, and the seniors are more likely to thrive. If they feel that everyone speaks to them like they’re a child, the seniors may adapt to negative behavior patterns or withdraw from everyone.
Encourage Them To Discuss Hard Subjects By Using “I” Statements
Families can use different tactics for addressing concerns when speaking to senior loved ones instead of making statements that sound like accusations. Psychologists recommend using “I” statements to express how the family member is feeling, and these statements encourage seniors to express their feelings.
When a senior loved one withdraws from their family, these statements present a more reassuring environment where it is safe for the senior to discuss their feelings. The family member takes on the role of the conversation starter to open the door for encouraging their aging senior to become more active in family discussions.
Motivate Them By Using Light-Hearted Humor
Light-hearted comedy and humor give seniors a welcoming environment. Caregivers and family members can encourage their senior loved ones to laugh more by introducing them to jokes or even movies that align with the senior’s sense of humor. These strategies help families create fun memories with their aging parents. Even if the humor comes from the elderly loved one’s memories, these opportunities uplift seniors and their families.
Reduce Distractions When Encouraging Your Loved One
Families must address their senior loved one’s health needs by discussing their medical conditions and current health statement. Unfortunately, too many distractions cause issues, and the loved ones don’t stay focused on the conversation. By eliminating distractions such as the TV first, the family can encourage their seniors to discuss current health challenges and find better solutions for addressing serious health crises. These conversations about their health can encourage seniors to make lifestyle changes and live better lives.
Terrific Homes for Seniors
At Terraza Senior Living, we provide a positive living environment for all seniors whether they live independently or need help with ADLs. Our community offers terrific amenities for all seniors and makes life easier for them every day, and all our residents enjoy our uplifting words and encouragement. Does your senior loved one need to move into a community and get vital services? Come to our community today for a private tour.
