Helping Elderly Loved Ones with Anxiety and Depression

This has been a rough time for everyone, and as we continue through hard times, it’s so important to check in with those you love and see how they are doing. It is especially important to reach out and check in with your elderly loved ones. After a year of social distancing, loss and isolation, mental health among the elderly is in a rough place. Depression and anxiety are being reported in greater numbers, and the cost is high. There are still ways that you can help your elderly loved ones during this time while still ensuring they stay safe. Here are [NUMBER] ideas to try now. If you are struggling with how to help your senior family members, please contact At Home Personal Care today at (703) 330-2323.

1. Check in Often

Often could mean daily, or could mean a few times a day, depending on how your elderly loved one is handling life right now. Set them up with an easy-to-use tablet computer with accessibility options that make it easy for them to see the icons and words on the screen if they have vision impairments, and enable voice reading for them. Video calls allow them to see you and talk with you, and it saves them the hassle of texting. You can also help them set up their device so that they can use it between calls with family and friends. Send them their favorite music, help them figure out how to stream their favorite movies and TV shows, and enable the device with audiobooks they can listen to as well.

2. Know What Questions to Ask

When you’re chatting with your loved one, make sure to ask questions that will help you gauge where their mental health is. Ask them what they’ve had for breakfast, lunch or dinner to ensure they’re eating properly. Loss of appetite can signal depression and stress. Ask how well they’re sleeping. Ask them what activities they’ve been doing during the day. If they seem to have lost interest in things that they used to love doing, this is another clue that depression is taking hold. Talk with them about things they enjoy talking about and be a listening ear for any concerns they have. You know your loved one best, so by actively listening, you can look for signs that your loved one may be experiencing emotional distress.

3. Encourage Virtual Social Connections

There’s no question that social gatherings and connections are an absolute must for mental health, and that’s the same for our senior citizens. But during these times when it’s hard to gather safely, help your senior loved one learn how to use technology to at least stay socially engaged by using the host of tools available today, from Zoom to FaceTime to Skype and many others. Find out what’s easiest for them to use and try to arrange family meetings, game nights or even movie nights. Find out if they have friends that are also using technology and get them connected together that way as well.

4. Deliver Love

Not everything has to be virtual, even now. Get family and friends in on sending letters, packages, favorite books, craft supplies and favorite snacks. Mask-up and talk through the window in person, keeping up with current health guidance.

5. Get Help

If you can tell that your elderly loved one is struggling, do not hesitate to call their physician or home care agency for help. Medication and other virtual therapies may be necessary to take the edge off of a mental health crisis

During this difficult time, keep connecting with your loved ones anyway you can, and don’t try to fight depression alone. It’s not necessary! There is hope, even now. To find out about different strategies and ideas, talk with our home healthcare experts in Northern Virginia today: At Home Personal Care: (703) 494-3989.