Express Yourself. How a home caregiver can help a senior loved one practice and pick up new hobbies.

Do you have an elderly family member who has gone from being busy to not having much to do? Unfortunately, this is a reality for some seniors due to such things as friends passing on, health, and mobility issues. These kinds of events don’t have to mean an end to activity. In fact, they can mean just the opposite. Your senior loved one can take these changes as an opportunity to discover new activities and hobbies. A home caregiver can assist with a variety of activities your loved one may want to try, whether it’s taking up watercolors, planting an herb garden or trying their hand at trivia games.

The importance of hobbies and side interests for seniors cannot be overstated. Home caregivers can help seniors cultivate new hobbies and interests to keep seniors engaged and active. Hobbies can reignite a sense of pleasure and purpose in one’s life, especially in retirement. Learning and developing new skills and interests can have lasting positive effects for everyone involved.

Boost Self Esteem

When we finish a job well done, we are flooded with a sense of accomplishment. Enjoying a new hobby brings this pride back into focus for many seniors. Meeting a milestone can bring a sense of satisfaction that may have eluded them for some time. Practice makes perfect, and as skills grow, so does a sense of mastery. Seeing the fruits of one’s hard work, such as becoming more fit from daily time in the garden or more mentally sharp through crossword puzzles, will help make a new hobby enjoyable.

With this mastery comes a boost of confidence and self-esteem for many seniors. Anyone who tries a new hobby and finds success should be rightfully proud. Self-image can suffer with age, so picking up a new hobby can really keep one young at heart. Hobbies also provide a way to care for others, whether it is by cooking a nice meal or selling clothes at a winter market. Giving back to the community with their craft is a huge boost for self-esteem.

Keep Senior Loved Ones Active Around the House

Seniors that want to take up a new hobby may be hindered by a lack of mobility. At home caregivers can play a pivotal role in helping seniors get involved by helping with visits to the store and attending meetings. By assisting with errands, in-home caregivers make new possibilities a reality.

Keeping busy and participating in activities is incredibly important as it gives seniors an opportunity to socialize. It can also reduce the risk of dementia and improve memory, not to mention being fun and a good way to keep the brain sharp. If your senior loved one is looking to try some new activities, but you’re unavailable to help them get started due to other obligations, it could be time to consider finding a home caregiver.

Griswold Home Care offers a number of home care services in Worcester and the surrounding area so loved ones can stay safe at home as they age. Call our office at (508) 917-6649 to learn more about how a home caregiver can help.