Keeping a Sense of Purpose for Seniors Leads to a More Fulfilling Life

What motivates you to push forward every day? If you are part of the sandwich generation, taking care of both older and younger loved ones, your list is probably quite long! However, for aging adults, as the nest empties, it becomes important to redefine their identity and learn new ways to bring meaning to each day.

The benefits of maintaining a sense of purpose for seniors are even more far-reaching than we once thought. A recently available study released in JAMA Psychiatry uncovered that older adults with a strong sense of purpose demonstrated stronger walking speeds and hand grips, which are two crucial determinants in how quickly we’re aging.

Why is this so? Patrick Hill, assistant professor of psychological and brain studies at Washington University, explains, “Purposeful individuals tend to be less reactive to stressors and more engaged, generally, in their daily lives, which can promote cognitive and physical health.”

How Can You Help Maintain a Sense of Purpose for Seniors You Love?

A sense of purpose, of course, manifests differently for each and every person. An excellent place to begin is by making a list of what the person likes and what skills they have. From there, consider how these can be used in meaningful outlets. For example, perhaps a retired carpenter who loves animals could volunteer at the local pet rescue shelter, building or repairing a storage shed. A person who enjoys reading and children could host a weekly story time at the library.

Even setting and achieving minor goals is tremendously helpful, or engaging in simple acts of kindness: starting and maintaining an herb garden, baking cookies for the neighbors, taking a course, taking care of the grandkids.

How Can Home Care Help?

Home care provides not only the motivation to maintain a sense of purpose for seniors but also the means to cultivate and carry out ideas for a much more purposeful life. Our caregivers serve as companions for the older adults we serve. We get acquainted with each individual personally, learning about their interests, likes, and dislikes, supplying the springboard to ideas for meaningful activities together.

We also can provide accompaniment anywhere an individual would want to go, making it easy to follow through and turn an idea into a reality.

Even further, it’s always more engaging to try new things with a friend by your side to motivate you every step of the way. A caregiver from Responsive Home Care is the ideal support for older adults to offer the encouragement needed, in conjunction with a full variety of care services to help conquer any hurdles to trying something new. Our services also include a complimentary online family care portal where family members can access care updates and a list of completed care tasks for each day.

For additional ideas and hands-on assistance with implementing them, connect with Responsive Home Care online or at (954) 486-6440 to see if we offer care in your area. We’re available 24/7 to help with expert home care services!