As the years pass, it’s easy for elderly people to lose some of their confidence and self-esteem, particularly after a fall. This becomes especially apparent when mobility is lost or if they find it harder to carry out tasks they used to be able to do easily. A lack of self-esteem can create negative thoughts and can even be associated with physical health issues. Due to this, one of the most important parts of caring for elderly people is empowering them and building up their confidence. You might be wondering how to do this… Here are some of the top ways to increase self-confidence in the elderly.
If an elderly person becomes too used to isolation, this can knock their confidence when it comes to finally socialising. Maintaining social connections can go a long way in making sure confidence in this area isn’t knocked, and it also boosts quality of life! To improve social connections in older adults, you could plan days out to the cinema and engage in social activities. Personal connections and relationships are extremely important for mental health, and this doesn’t change as we get older.
As a person gets slightly older, their mobility can start to become shaky. As this happens, it’s normal for them to feel less confident when moving around their home, as well as the outside world. If someone feels sure on their feet, they will feel more confident going out and about, and exercise is really great for maintaining an active lifestyle. To help boost an elderly person or family member’s confidence, explore some stability exercises with them or provide equipment in their homes such as walkers and handrails.
There’s nothing that differentiates an older person from you, other than age. Therefore, there’s no reason to treat them any differently than you would normally! Encourage conversations about current affairs or pop culture, making sure not to alter the way you would ordinarily speak to someone. This, in turn, will give them more confidence to socialise with others outside of their close circle or support network. Social interaction is an important part of personal care, so anything you can do to encourage this will go a long way.
Boosting confidence amongst the elderly can be as simple as taking them shopping or to the hairdressers. These kinds of activities often fall by the wayside as one gets older, but a new haircut or sets of well-fitting clothing can definitely make an elderly person feel more confident. This also allows them to maintain control over certain parts of their life, such as their wardrobe. Shopping can even be an activity that is included in private home care services, if an individual chooses to save up their hours of care to use on a trip like this.
Although you may think you’re being helpful by unpacking the shopping, a lot of older people prefer to maintain their independence. A large part of private home care is enabling elderly people to keep doing things by themselves, including routine tasks such as shaving or dressing in the morning. Home care prioritises supporting, not overtaking, a person’s lifestyle. Independence can even be found in hobbies or in finding a group of likeminded people who share interests, such as a book club.
Whether you need more tips on how to encourage and support an elderly loved one or you’re interested in private home care for yourself, come to Verilife. We provide excellent, personal home care that treats individuals with compassion and respect. Contact us at hello@verilife.co.uk or call 02031419290.
