Supporting our elderly parents
As our parents enter their golden years, we might feel concerned about the changes in
their health. We care deeply for them and supporting their mental health is just as
important as their physical health. This is critical for their overall well-being and helps
them feel valued and cared for.
Read on to find out how we can better support our parents’ mental health and well-being.
Tips on supporting our elderly parents
When communicating with our parents, it is useful to take note of the following:
Be patient and supportive
Take time to listen to their feelings, thoughts and needs. Give them the space and time to respond and express what is on their mind. Offering comfort and reassurance can encourage them to share their thoughts with us.
Be respectful
As our parents age, their ability to carry out daily functions may not be as good as before. We should avoid being critical or dismissive when communicating with our elderly parents and understand that they are not children who need parenting.
Be attentive
Our parents might have a hard time asking for support directly for fear of burdening us. Here are some tips we can try to make it easier for them to share their feelings with us:
- By observing their body language and paying close attention to their words, we may be able to take notice of what they are really trying to say.
- If they convey anxiety or frustration surrounding a particular task, we can ask if they need our assistance.
- Even if they may be reluctant to accept our help, we can show that we care and let them know that we are here if they need any support. We can repeat our offer but be mindful not to force the issue unless their safety is at stake.
Be mindful of our tone and volume
We can speak slowly and clearly, using a gentle and calm tone. Speaking loudly might also be distressing for our elderly parents. If they have trouble hearing, we can consider getting them hearing aids or making use of visual aids to facilitate conversations.
Click
here to learn more tips on how to navigate challenging conversations with empathy and care, so that we can better support our parents.
Prioritise their well-being
If our parents are acting unusual, neglecting themselves or endangering their own safety, we may have to step in for their best interest.
For example, elderlies with
dementia may not be aware that their abilities have changed and that they are unable to perform normal routines safely.
We can try communicating more with them or increasing the frequency of our visits to support and care for them.
Different mental health challenges
Our parents might experience some changes and losses at this stage of their lives which can affect their mental health and well-being. As their child, we can learn about the mental health challenges they might face so that we can better support them.
Our parents might experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. If we notice them going through this, we can read more about sleep health and useful tips to share with them.
Emerging health concerns and life transitions such as retirement or taking care of a new grandchild might bring about stress. It is important that we help our parents manage it before it overwhelms them.
Click
here to learn more tips that we can share with our parents about how seniors can manage stress.
When things get overwhelming or do not happen as expected, our parents might experience intense emotions. We can help them learn to be more aware of their emotions and manage them better.
Click
here to learn more tips that you can share with your parents about managing emotions.
1 in every 10 people aged 60 years old and above has dementia. Caring for someone with dementia can be intense and challenging. To learn more about how we can support our elderly parents living with dementia, click here.
It is normal to feel sad occasionally but if we notice our parents feeling down over an extended period, they could be suffering from depression. Click
here to find out more about depression and how we can better support our parents.
Here are some tips on caring for parents with depression:
OCD is one of the top three most common mental health conditions and it can cause distress and anxiety in our parents. To better support them, we can
learn more about what they are going through and how to seek help.
Here are some tips on caring for parents with OCD:
It is normal to feel anxious at times but if our parents’ daily lives are affected because they feel excessively anxious, it could be a sign of anxiety disorder. We can
learn more about what they are going through and when to seek help to better support them in managing it.
Here are some tips on caring for parents with anxiety disorder:
At this stage of their lives, our parents may experience different forms of change and loss. They may experience worsening health and mobility, loss of loved ones and social connections, or even a loss of income or independence.
Some of these events may cause them to feel lonely, overwhelmed, or stressed. When these feelings become too much to handle, some might hurt or contemplate hurting themselves to seek relief.
Click
here to learn more about self-harm and suicide as well as how to help our parents cope with it.
Self-care matters
Caring for our elderly parents can be tiring and frustrating at times. This can take a toll on our physical and mental well-being. Ultimately, the lack of self-care will make it more difficult for us to care for them. This is also why we should not feel guilty about attending to our needs.
Practising and prioritising self-care allows us to recharge and be ready to provide our parents with the support they need. Refer to these tips on
managing stress and
emotions to keep ourselves healthy.
