Homecare: Understanding stress and how it can affect seniors is the first step in figuring out how to help your parents manage stress.
There may be things that you don’t even know about going on. Maybe they can no longer work their homes on their own but refuse to move, perhaps they cannot cook for themselves, or maybe they refuse to ask you for help in fear of being a burden. Homecare service providers can help reduce some of the stress a senior feels, but there are also things you can do on your own.
Many seniors want to age in place, and that is an understandable desire. Going to a senior community or nursing home is not always a comforting thought. 24-hour home care can be a better option for seniors who want to remain independent, but that doesn’t always solve all of the issues causing a senior stress in life.
Chronic stress can be severe and even deadly for seniors. Chronic stress is defined as “A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.” Many symptoms come from having chronic stress, and that is why it can be so essential to help your loved ones manage the stress in their lives. This may mean you hire extra help or spend more time with them to help limit the chronic stress they feel. Here are some tips to help you understand how you might help a senior dealing with an enormous amount of stress.
Evaluate Diet
Believe it or not, some foods can induce stress whereas fresh whole foods can help limit stress and become overall healthier. Things like sugar release more cortisol which controls blood sugar and stress levels. When you add more into your diet your blood sugar and stress levels may spike. It is best to understand what foods may cause a senior unnecessary stress and eat alternative foods.
Evaluate Sleep
It is crucial for seniors to get adequate sleep. There is some myth out there that says seniors need less sleep than everyone else. That is not entirely true. As someone ages their sleeping patterns may change, they may go to bed earlier and get up earlier but they still need that rest to shut down for the night and re-energize for the next day. Loss of sleep can cause stress and anxiety that a senior shouldn’t have to deal with.
Find Activities
Activities for seniors to socialize in or meet new people may keep them from feeling stress. Sometimes a senior can stress because they are not focused on something proactive or they have too much time to sit and stress. Sometimes it is best to become distracted especially when the stressors are out of the family’s control. Encourage the seniors to get out and have hobbies.
Homecare: Organize The Space
Seniors who want to stay at home should try to avoid clutter. A simple thing like going through things purging and organizing can help limit the stress a senior feels daily. It may be something you can do together.
