Aging isn’t always a day at the beach. Yet some folks seem to handle it better than others. Issues like chronic pain, dealing with the loss of a partner or close friends, and memory loss can contribute to a poor disposition.
As a caregiver, you want to lift an elder’s mood for their sake as well as your own. The truth is that sometimes you’ll succeed and sometimes you’ll fail but trying rarely hurts. Here are some tips to help bring cheer to your loved one’s life.
Listen and learn: This one is easy, yet has a profound impact. Perhaps the most important thing we can do to cheer people up is simply listen to them. Take sincere interest in a senior’s life. You might find he or she has a heartwarming story you want to document so future generations can draw inspiration!
Dance: The combination of physical touch, upbeat music and a smiling caregiver can work magic. Uplifting music from an era the elder enjoys, along with good companionship, might do just the trick!
Do something together: Activities are often about trial and error. Those that are too easy might be demeaning, but too much challenge might cause frustration. Ask your loved one what he or she would most enjoy doing. Scrabble is a good way to keep mental skills sharp. You can also check out our schedule of activities for ideas.
What successes have you enjoyed in trying to chase those blues away?