Teamwork Ensures Seniors Feel Valued
August 15, 2024
Making sure loved ones feel appreciated grows more important as they get older, as feeling needed increases their emotional and mental well-being. The good news is that there are many ways to make seniors feel valued, and when home care and family members work together, they can establish a loving and supportive environment that allows seniors to thrive.
Understanding the Importance of Feeling Appreciated
Acknowledging an individual's accomplishments, experiences, and uniqueness is crucial to making them feel valued and goes beyond simply expressing gratitude. This is true at any age, but it’s particularly important for seniors, who may begin to feel like life is passing them by. For seniors who’ve had a change in medical conditions, mobility, or independence, the need to feel valued and appreciated is even more important.
Communication is Key
Communication is the first step towards a successful partnership between family members and home care providers. To make sure that everyone is in agreement, ongoing conversations regarding the senior's requirements, preferences, and concerns are beneficial. While family members can contribute insightful background information about the senior's past and personality, home care workers can also share their observations and insights. Some tips for ensuring successful communication include the following:
- Plan frequent check-ins between home care and family members.
- Share communication tools that keep things like appointments, medication schedules, and other crucial information organized.
- Ensure seniors are active participants in their own care by encouraging them to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and preferences.
The Importance of Customized Care
Every senior has different requirements and preferences. Individualized care plans that consider these things, as well as their aversions and interests, can make them feel appreciated and valued. This is the perfect time for home care and family members to get together and explore key aspects of the care plan to ensure seniors get everything they need.
As mentioned above, seniors should also be a part of these communications. Not only do they get a sense of value when they realize their loved ones are working with their home care team, but they also appreciate the ability to add or subtract ideas that might be suggested.
Emotional Support Goes a Long Way
Part of feeling valued is receiving emotional support. Offering companionship, empathy, and understanding is a role that both loved ones and home care workers can play. Additionally, being a part of a community can greatly increase seniors’ sense of value.
Promoting Self-Sufficiency
It’s essential for seniors to feel appreciated to maintain their sense of independence. In other words, encouraging self-sufficiency wherever feasible helps maintain their self-esteem, even when they might need support. Home care and loved ones can accomplish this by exploring with seniors which tasks they need assistance with and which ones they don’t. It’s important to note that seniors might be able to do part of a task but not all of it. When this is the case, they should be allowed to do this. For instance, they may be able to dress themselves but not tie their shoes. A good way to support self-sufficiency is to encourage the use of slip-on shoes or ask if they would like help with their shoes.
It takes a team effort from loved ones and home care to make sure seniors feel appreciated. Together, these two groups can establish a setting where seniors get not only physical care but also emotional support and dignity, which improves their overall well-being.