To help your loved one manage anxiety:
- Try to recognize what triggers the feelings of discomfort and uneasiness
- Help your elderly family member avoid or learn to handle these triggers
- Ask their doctor about medication therapy and psychotherapy
Help them maintain their daily routine and encourage them to practice meditation and relaxation. Take them to nature trips and make sure your loved one spends time outside. Connecting with nature can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression and help the elderly feel more energized.
Play music, your loved one finds pleasurable as research shows that music can reduce stress, reduce pain, and promote relaxation.
Encourage regular exercise. Even if your aging family member is challenged by limited mobility, there are exercises that they can do, such as upper-body yoga and similar exercises.
Lastly, offer support and reassure your elderly family member that you’ll always be there for them. A caregiver’s understanding, support, and empathy make the older adult’s life more pleasant and make caregiving more comfortable and less stressful.
However, if you are concerned about your loved one’s safety, contact their health care provider.