How to Be Happy Despite Pain or Chronic Illness

personal care assistance Anchorage
Our personal care services in Anchorage and the surrounding areas help seniors attain the highest possible quality of life at all times.

Have you ever started your day and said, “It’s likely to be one of those days!” Maybe your alarm didn’t go off, the hot water heater opted to quit working, plus the dog chewed up one of your favorite shoes overnight. Now picture if every day were “one of those days!” For somebody living with a chronic illness (and that’s much of the senior population), day-to-day struggles and challenges may be a given.

Even so, there are plenty of steps that seniors can take to realize and maintain a life of joy, even throughout the face of chronic illness. For instance:

  • Follow passions. Seeking purpose and meaning in every day is vital – and possible. Many older adults uncover fulfillment in aiding and supporting other people. Others thrive on being lifelong learners. For some it could mean documenting the past for the following generation. Brainstorm ideas until you arrive at one that sparks passion, and then make it a reality.
  • Practice a positive attitude. One easy way to achieve a more positive perspective on life is by journaling. Encourage your older family members to start every day by developing a list of everything they are grateful for that morning, including the seemingly mundane: the smell of fresh coffee brewing, a pet curled up in a sunbeam, a planned lunch date with a relative. At the end of each week, sit together and read back through the prior entries for a quick and reliable pick-me-up.
  • Refrain from negativity. Including a measure of positivity as outlined above can naturally contribute to diminished negativity, but there are additional strategies which can be followed as well. For example, permit breaks from activities that induce aggravation, allowing for needed time to de-stress. Place the focus on tackling tasks that can be accomplished successfully, and find an alternate solution for those that are too challenging, such as delegating those tasks to another member of the family or a friend, or employing the services of a specialist.
  • Get away from the house. Sustaining as active a lifestyle as possible outside the home can be so energizing for seniors. Help your older loved ones go out for hair appointments, shopping trips, visits with good friends, and other fun outings, as much as they are comfortable. Even simply stepping outdoors and relaxing on the front porch when weather permits can substantially elevate someone’s mood and outlook.

At Midnight Sun Home Care, it’s our aim to help seniors attain the highest possible quality of life at all times. Our thoroughly trained and experienced Anchorage care team provides cheerful companionship, engaging activities, transportation, and much more. Contact us online or call us at (907) 677-7890 and learn the difference our caregivers can make and why we’re rated number one when it comes to senior care services and personal care assistance Anchorage families trust! To learn more about all of the areas that we serve in Alaska, please visit our Service Area page.

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