Setting Goals in the New Year With Your Senior Loved Ones

You might have a huge list of the goals for the new year committed to paper. But did you know that it is also beneficial for your senior loved one to have their own set of goals for the new year? So, as the new year begins, add one more thing to your list. Take some time with them to set goals for the year ahead and for their future.

While they might not set a goal of running a marathon, they can resolve to be more active. Work with your senior loved one to come up with actionable and attainable goals. It will give them something to strive for in the new year, as well as something they can feel good about when they achieve it.

Studies have shown that having such resolutions can be beneficial, especially for aging seniors. One such study from Rush University showed that people with a “sense of purpose” are two to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Here are some tips for setting goals with your senior loved ones this year.

Write Them Down

Sitting down and writing out the goals can make them seem more real. It also is a great way to enter the new year - with a positive outlook on things that you want to accomplish. Many studies show that having a positive outlook on life, which often includes believing that you can and will accomplish goals, leads to overall better health. Listen to what your loved one wants to accomplish, and see if you have any suggestions for them.

Share Them

Talk with your senior loved ones about their goals for the year. They might surprise you. Share yours with them, too. You can work together to accomplish them, encourage each other and hold each other accountable. Having a partner on the journey is helpful.

Include Them

As you think about your goals and theirs, include learning from your senior loved one on the list. Do you want to know their back story? Make it a goal for both of you to hear their life story. Decide if you’ll want to write it down, or video them telling it. Maybe you’ve always wanted to know what their sense of fashion was like in their younger days, or where they got all of the pieces in their collection of Royal Family memorabilia. Make it a goal together to learn these

things. Your interest in them will make them happy. It also will give them a goal to strive for - telling their story to you.

Consider Health

As you work with your loved ones to set goals, keep in mind their current and long-term health. That means as hard as it may be, make sure that eating a healthy diet is on the list. Come up with ways together to make that happen. Maybe you will set out a goal of heading to the grocery store together once a week or stopping by the local farmers market for fresh produce.

Include a commitment to exercise on the list of goals, too. Maybe you both can set the goal of walking together through the neighborhood every morning. Or maybe you both want to walk along the beach once a week. Find something fun that will entice them to stay active.

Consider the Practical

As you both work to set goals, make sure to write down practical things you need to accomplish. Do you need to go through their home to ensure there aren’t any tripping hazards? Does your senior loved one want to install grab bars in their bathroom? Maybe they even want to hire an in-home caregiver to help them get ready each morning, which will make it easier for them to accomplish their goals. Though these types of goals aren’t quite as fun as searching for shark teeth along the beaches in Venice once a month, they are important to include on your list as well.

Visiting Angels Can Help

If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one meet some of their goals this year, our caregivers at Visiting Angels can help. Through our companionship, personal care, and specialty services, we can help them do things such as keep in touch with friends, prepare meals, remind them to take their medicines, and more. We serve seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, and the surrounding areas. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care, respite care, fall prevention services, and a safe and steady program.

We will come to your home for a free visit to find out your needs and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information or find us online.