Home Care Services in Oakbrook, IL Help Seniors Cope with Depression

It is normal to occasionally feel sad or “blue”. It is not normal to feel overcome with sadness or so overwhelmed by negativity that it affects your quality of life. This can damage physical health and make life much less pleasurable for your aging loved one. If you are concerned that your aging loved one may be suffering from depression, hiring home care services can make a tremendous difference in his ability to cope with his depression and overcome it for a happier, healthier, more productive and more positive quality of life.

Some of the ways that an in home care provider can help aging adults cope with depression include:

• Encouraging physical activity. Studies have shown that staying physically active helps to keep the mind sharper and releases endorphins that create a sense of happiness and positivity.
• Getting your aging loved one out of the house. Staying in the same place for an extended period of time can cause boredom and the feeling of being trapped. Simply getting out of the house and enjoying activities will help to boost your loved one’s mood and give him a greater sense of positivity.
• Encouraging your loved one to laugh. While it seems strange to consider a depressed senior laughing, studies have indicated that simply the act of laughing releases hormones that create a feeling of happiness and contentment. Your loved one’s home care services companion can watch television or movies with your loved one, share funny books or simply interact with him with the goal of making him laugh on a regular basis.
• Connecting him with a mental health care professional. When depression becomes serious and chronic, it is important to seek out the help of a qualified professional. A home care services provider can offer transportation to mental health appointments and help reinforce the message of the mental health professional.

If you feel that your aging loved one is suffering from depression and would like for him to have a caregiver in the home, contact a home care services agency in your area to discuss hiring a home care provider. Often just the presence of another person on a regular basis can make a tremendous difference in how a senior perceives life and the world around him.

For Home Care Services in Oakbrook IL call 708-761-4909. Serving La Grange, Oakbrook, Oak Brook Terrace, Brookfield, Westchester, Downers Grove, Berwyn, River Forest, Oak Park, Hinsdale, Chicago and surrounding communities.