Different ways to support an elderly person
There are different ways you can support an elderly person, most of them need emotional and spiritual support to have a happy balanced life.
The following are practical tips on how to support elderly relatives or neighbours, they will be thankful and you will make a difference in their lives.
1. Listen to their story; most elderly people just want someone who can listen to them.
When you pay attention to an elderly person and listen to whatever they have to share with you, they feel understood and less lonely.
2. Give them your time.
Spend some time with them, make conversations, for example: talk about something you did at work or at school, ask them ‘How their day was?’ watch movies with them or go for a walk, take them to a restaurant and enjoy the meal. Do some gardening, most elderly people like gardening because it’s very relaxing; also they feel stress free and connected to nature.
3. Invite them to join a faith club.
Joining a faith club often helps, because they will be surrounded by people with similar background to them, it will bring more positivity and peace in their life.
4. Meditation
Meditation helps with stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and negativity. Meditation is an ancient healing therapy, which calms your mind brings peace and it’s a very relaxing therapy, which makes you focus on the positive side of your life, it will change your perspective on the way you live your life.
5. Listen to Music
Encourage them to listen to music as therapy. Some music brings back the wonderful old memories, it makes our brain focus on the rhythm and the beat, it makes us dance and sometimes it makes us want to sing. Most meditators listen to spiritual music to calm their mind and remove all the negativity from their mind before they start their meditating practice.
Research done by our Homeshare Volunteer Disha Dhanki. Sources used:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/emotional-fitness/201112/10-ways-get-and-give-emotional-support