The Pivotal Role Played by Caregivers in Reducing Stress and Anxiety among Seniors.
From a school going kid to a retired senior, everyone goes through stress at some point. Despite doing whatever you can, stress is inevitable in life and is associated with life in most philosophies and cultures.
The best way to tackle stress is not to prevent it but developing the mental capability that reduces the impact of a stressors. And, there are many ways people can practice and ease their stressors or stressful situations. As many things in life, it is easier said than done.
People think seniors do not have anything to stress about as they are retired, and have all the time to live a peaceful life. On contrary to the popular belief seniors face a lot of stress compared to the other age groups, if not the most than any. And, there are many reasons for it.
What are the Reasons for Stress?
Imagine. You woke up in the morning, went to the bathroom, and turned on the tap. For your surprise, there was no water coming through. It may appear as a simple thing but for a few it can cause tremendous stress.
Starting from the things that are deemed as petty to serious issues such as health-related or death of a loved one, everything can cause stress. The latter are the major reasons why seniors undergo stressful moments in their everyday life.
Handle the stress
In general, physical activities, a hobby, or active social life are the reliable solutions for stress. Even though medical support helps, doctors see it as the last option. The family members or friends play the major role in helping elders to handle their stressors better and avoid stressful situations.
If the elderly person is living in an assisted living facility or in a senior living community, it would be the caregivers who take the responsibility of helping elders to ease out their stress.
As the people who spend most of their time with elders, the compassionate caregivers provide the much needed relief for the senior citizens. Here are the ways caregivers help elders in handling their stress. Continue reading the blog to know the exact ways caregivers help.
Role of Caregivers in Reducing Stress or Anxiety in Seniors
Handling stress or anxiety is not that hard for the younger generation but it would be for the elderly. Keeping the limited stress-relieving options for the elderly, they (caregivers) leverage every possible way to help elders to live a seamless life without worrying about anything.
1. They Spot the Changes in Response
The unique thing about life is that every individual is unique. And, so the way they express their feelings, communicate, and behave. Caregivers, as the people who spend most of their time around seniors, could easily spot a change or a difference in an elderly.
Stress or anxiety will make elders change their daily living patterns, response, or the way they communicate. As the observant people living close by the elderly, caregivers could see the differences. This helps them to talk to the elders and find the reason and solution for their stress or anxiety.
2. They Spot the Physical Changes
A stressful individual’s brain expresses its hardship in many ways by releasing the stress hormones. They may contribute to increased or decreased sleep, increased forgetfulness, skin rashes, and disturbed regular activities.
Caregivers at the assisted living facilities will have a sharp eye for this kind of changes, thanks to their training and learning sessions about senior lives. These small observations will tell a lot about the stressors and reasons behind anxiety.
3. They Contribute to the Quality of Life
Playing the role of almost a confidant of an elderly life, caregivers play a role that is not mentioned in their job description. In simple terms, a caregiver’s role is like water that fits and fills every form and shape of an elderly need.
They are a senior’s friend when the elder is sharing a light moment, they are their nurse while giving the medication; they are their personal assistance while reminding a family member or a friend’s birthday and the list goes on.
4. They Help in Pursuing a Hobby or Passion
Like the popular saying goes, an idle brain is a devil’s workshop, the mind needs to be occupied with good things. Like the body needs its food, mind needs a book or a story or a passion to be in sound health. Understanding the importance of a hobby or a passion in their retired lives; caregivers play an important role in helping elders pursue their interest.
Starting from reading a book for them to helping them dig to plant a tree – caregivers would be there at a hand’s reach for the elderly in every step. The much-needed hand for the elderly!
5. They Keep Up the Vibe of the Community
Assisted living facilities are best known for their tight schedules that keep elders engaged and entertained. But in reality it is the caregivers who keep the positive vibe sound and live in those seniors’ world.
They know how to break the ice, how to keep an elder engaged; and how to have a conversation with the elderly. If the engaging and entertaining sessions fail to keep an elderly occupied; caregivers cover it for them and keep them away from stress or anxiety.
6. They Value Add to the Medical Support
Age-related health issues are plenty and many seniors tend to feel anxious or stressed about their health complications. The consultations of the doctor and the medications will surely help but not completely.
Knowing the kind of ailment or complication each elder is going through; caregivers give just the right kind of moral support that works wonders. They also help the doctors by contributing with their observations of the elderly.
When elderly are kept this occupied, engaged, and blissed, they will have very little to worry about and stress is just a word than an issue for them.
Final Words
Care giving is not a profession but a passion. A passion to strive hard to offer a quality life, a commitment to establish a positive senior living community. And the caregivers are the very fuel that keeps the senior living establishment thriving.
