The Importance of Aging with Dignity for Older Adults

Aging with dignity is important for an older adult’s self-esteem.

It is quite easy to get swept up in the daily tasks of caregiving for a senior you love. There’s so much to be done, and sometimes it’s just easier and a lot more efficient to do it all on your own, letting the senior relax. After all, our elders have taken care of things for a lifetime; haven’t they earned a break? 

The truth however, is that aging with dignity is incredibly necessary to our wellbeing, something that comes from having a sense of purpose and meaning in life. And even though ensuring safety is, without a doubt, our primary concern, there are ways to empower a senior loved one in your care to remain in control whenever possible. For instance:  

• Work together on projects. While standing at the kitchen sink and washing dishes might be difficult or unsafe for a senior loved one, maybe he or she can sit at the table and dry them. The senior might not be in the position to bake a pie from beginning to end, but can mix ingredients as you reminisce about recipes made over the years. It might take a little thought, but it’s worthwhile to determine methods to alter tasks to incorporate the older adult’s assistance whenever possible.
• Allow for decision-making. Try to find opportunities to ask for the senior’s wisdom, allowing him or her to remain in control. In lieu of assuming she or he will want a ham sandwich for lunch, ask. Before automatically accompanying a senior loved one to the doctor’s office for an exam, ask if she or he would like you there. Having a say in even the smallest of decisions tends to make a difference in self-esteem.
• Ensure safety with respect. Safety is, obviously, paramount, but there are ways to make certain a senior stays safe without overstepping boundaries. Medical alert systems, as an example, are an excellent way to promote independence in older adults while providing them with the means to call easily for help when needed. 
• Hire professionals. Some seniors balk at the idea of their adult children assisting them with personal care needs, such as using the toilet or taking a bath. A professional care provider, who is trained and experienced in helping seniors maintain dignity while staying safe, is often a more acceptable solution.

Contact the aging care team at Hired Hands Homecare to find out more about our trusted home care services, always provided with the respect and attention to dignity older adults deserve. We are available for as little as a few hours each week up through and including 24/7 care. Email or call us at (866) 940-4343 today to learn more about our award-winning home care in Novato and the surrounding communities.