VISITING ANGELS MERCER & BURLINGTON COUNTIES, NJ 609-883-8188
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5 Ways to Help a Senior Become More Independent

VA 5 ways

As your loved ones age, you may feel the need to step in and help them with day-to-day activities. While you may think you're helping, you might be limiting their independence. For seniors, staying independent is crucial to helping them maintain their dignity and keeping them healthy. Whether it's taking their medication on time or engaging in activities with other people, there are many ways to help a senior become more independent. The following are five tips to help seniors remain as independent as possible.

1. Help Them Remain Social

It's easy for seniors to become isolated and lonely, especially when they can't travel independently. If you want to help, try finding activities that can engage your loved one with other people. Activities like going to church, visiting family members, or getting involved in social groups like bingo are great ways to keep them social.

Having dinners or family occasions are other ways to keep them mentally, emotionally, and physically engaged. You could also encourage people to visit your loved one in their own home. Better yet, when you hire a senior companion/home health aide to assist them in their home, you're preventing your loved one from feeling isolated. While a professional caregiver has a responsibility to help around the house, they can also engage in conversations and social interaction.

2. Keep Them Involved

Family caregivers often want to help their loved ones with day-to-day activities. A great way to help a senior become more independent is to involve them in house chores. Some examples of how you can involve them include asking for their help with folding clothes, cooking meals, or cleaning around the house.

Always ensure that loved ones feels like they’re a part of the daily routine. Giving them a role to play in daily chores makes them feel a sense of purpose and responsibility. The goal is to make sure they're involved in these activities, even when they need help.

3. Assist Them in Maintaining Their Health

Seniors often tend to ignore their health. A natural inclination is to just let them sit in a chair and watch television all day long while a caregiver cooks and cleans. However, this doesn't have to be the case. Family members and caregivers can encourage a healthy lifestyle for loved ones. This includes helping them exercise regularly, keep doctor’s appointments, and maintain a medication schedule.

There are many ways to keep your loved ones active. It could be helping with a garden, going for a walk around the neighborhood, or even attending exercise classes for seniors. The exercise doesn't even have to be rigorous. The key here is to keep them active.

4. Make Their Home Safe

A safe home is crucial for a senior's independence. It's easy for seniors to fall without rails and other safety measures implemented in their homes. However, this doesn't mean a senior has to leave the home. Staying home can often help a senior maintain their independence more than living in an assisted living or other senior care facility. With that said, you still want to ensure their home has safety protocols in place to help them live comfortably. Things to consider are adding rails in bathrooms, removing any tripping hazards, and reorganizing their home to help with their needs.

5. Help Them Stay Mentally Active

Another great way to help a senior maintain their independence is to engage them mentally. Playing cards, solving puzzles, or finding them reading material is a great way for them to stay mentally active. Spending time with your loved ones while engaging in a fun activity is a great way to bond with them while encouraging them to stay mentally alert. So, put your heads together to solve some sudoku, play some chess, finish a complicated jigsaw puzzle, or tackle a tricky crossword puzzle for a fun time with your family.

There are many ways to help a senior stay independent. However, you may find yourself or other family members struggling to find time to help your loved ones. The good news is that you're not alone. Visiting Angels can help your older family members remain independent with assistance from one of our trained home health aides. Whether it's assisting them with daily chores or keeping them engaged socially, an Angel can help. Contact us today to explore your options!

Serving Mercer & Burlington Counties in New Jersey

Visiting Angels MERCER & BURLINGTON COUNTIES, NJ
140 Darrah Ln
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone: 609-883-8188
Fax: 609-883-8199

200 Campbell Dr #105C
Willingboro NJ 08046
Phone: 609-883-8188

Serving Mercer & Burlington Counties in New Jersey

Visiting Angels MERCER & BURLINGTON COUNTIES, NJ
140 Darrah Ln
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone: 609-883-8188
Fax: 609-883-8199

200 Campbell Dr #105C
Willingboro NJ 08046
Phone: 609-883-8188