Because seniors typically have a lot of spare time on their hands, battling boredom is a really important aspect of any care plan. Families might not feel sure about what to do, especially if they are short on spare time themselves. Home care assistance can be a fantastic way for families to help seniors address issues around boredom because they can be there around the clock and they can offer a variety of different types of assistance.
Planning Activities Together
Home care providers spend a lot of time with the people they provide care to and for that reason they’re able to plan enjoyable activities together. Caregivers get to know what the seniors in their care enjoy doing and want to try. Those activities might be as simple as board games to try or as adventurous as planning day trips.
Offering Social Interaction
One of the best ways to beat boredom is with social interaction. Socializing stimulates the brain and keeps seniors engaged with the world around them. Caregivers can also help seniors to have access to other sources of social interaction, whether that’s via video calling or in-person events they need transportation to regularly.
Encouraging Creativity
Home care assistance can also help seniors to be more creative in every aspect of their lives. That might mean finding new crafts and activities like painting, writing, making music, and more. Self-expression helps seniors to deal with their feelings in a healthy way, so it’s an important aspect of protecting mental health.
Engaging in Daily Tasks Together
Daily tasks like cleaning and laundry are pretty boring. When seniors have someone there with them, especially when caregivers are there to help, those tasks are a lot less dull. There is the social engagement aspect, but seniors also have someone there to body double with them, making daily life more interesting.
Reminiscing and Storytelling
Caregivers are a great audience for the stories and memories that seniors have to share. They are great at asking leading questions that get seniors excited about sharing stories about their lives. This offers social benefits and also keeps seniors engaged mentally and emotionally.
Promoting Good Physical Health
Physical activity keeps seniors healthier, especially if seniors are paying attention to the limits recommended by their doctors. When seniors are moving more, their brains are getting more blood and more oxygen, which helps them to stay healthier, too. Spending time moving more is a great way for seniors to battle boredom.
Embracing Learning
There are so many things that seniors can learn and do. They may want to learn new languages, learn to play an instrument, or learn some other skill. There are tons of ways to do this from online learning to following interests wherever they lead. Home care providers can help seniors to fully embrace learning new things.
Home care assistance offers a lot of practical, hands-on assistance to aging adults, but it can also help seniors in other ways, too. When it comes to avoiding boredom, caregivers can offer infinite ways to ensure that seniors have what they need to improve their quality of life.
Reference: https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2023/02/why-body-doubling-could-help-you-accomplish-more/
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING HOME CARE ASSISTANCE IN PALO ALTO, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY. (408) 317-4969
