Ageing is natural and inevitable, which leads to restricted physical abilities and cognitive function, making daily tasks more challenging for seniors. It's where elder care comes into help. 

When it comes to the traditional approach to aged care, the focus is only on addressing older adult's physical and medical needs. However, this traditional care approach fails to take into account all aspects of senior's well-being. 

In contrast, the holistic approach is a modern-day aged care approach that views older adults as whole beings and, thus, addresses their physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs. Going through this article, you can understand the holistic approaches to aged care, its elements, benefits, and holistic wellness activities.

Understanding Holistic Approach to Aged Care

A holistic approach to aged care involves care centred around an older adult's overall well-being. This modern-day elder care approach considers seniors as someone with hopes, dreams, emotions, unique preferences, meaningful relationships, personal values, and prosperous life experiences.

Therefore, holistic elderly care is not limited to addressing visible physical health concerns. It goes beyond administering medication or providing physical assistance to older adults with regular activities. Instead, holistic approaches look at individuals as a whole and, thus, give the seniors mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual support. 

What are the Elements of Holistic Care for the Elderly?

Knowing the five core elements of the holistic care approach will help better understand what it can bring to elderly well-being:

• Physical care

It's the traditional aspect of aged care and addresses older adult's physiological needs. A holistic approach to physical care can include assistance for daily activities like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, physical therapy, medication management, handling chronic diseases, and more. 

Moreover, when coupled with a balanced, nutritious diet and regular workout, physical care can help older individuals maintain good physical health.

• Mental care 

A holistic approach to aged mental care focuses on improving an older adult's cognitive abilities and memory. Moreover, mental health support can help slow down the progression of mental disorders like dementia, Alzheimer's, etc. Many activities aimed at sharpening the mind, like gaming, puzzle solving, and reading, are vital to holistic mental care. 

• Emotional care

Emotional health and quality of life are dependent on one another. The better the individual's emotional health, the better he can live. 

Holistic aged care involves improving senior's emotional well-being through activities like genuine conversation, counselling, empathetic listening, creating a nurturing environment, and more. These activities help older adults express their feelings and improve their state of mind. 

• Social care

Humans are inherently social beings, and older adults are no exception. Even when an individual ages, he tends to feel lonelier and, thus, needs to socialise more. 

A holistic approach to social care encourages seniors to socialise more by participating in social activities, events, and community engagement and interacting more with family, friends, and relatives. 

• Spiritual care 

Another vital element of holistic aged care is acknowledging and respecting the older adult's diverse spiritual beliefs. Practices like yoga, meditation, and religious activities can promote mindfulness, peace, and comfort in life.

What are the Benefits of the Holistic Approach in Elderly Care?

A holistic approach to elder care comes with the following perks that can exponentially contribute to improving seniors' overall well-being and quality of life:

• Addresses multiple aspects of health, including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects.
• Encourages preventive care by helping prevent illness rather than just treating ailments.
• Cognitive maintenance and development
• Promotes spiritual and cultural comfort
• Lead to independence and autonomy for seniors
• Improves aged individuals' quality of life

What are the Holistic Wellness Activities for Older Adults?

Implementing the holistic approach to aged care involves incorporating many activities that can work together to promote older adult's physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. 

Here are some activities that can support senior's holistic wellness:

• Gentle workout: Light to moderate-intensity exercises like yoga, 30-minute walk, swimming, Zumba, aerobic exercises, or Tai Chi can help older individuals maintain physical fitness, promote muscle flexibility, mental health, and emotional well-being, and reduce chronic pain.
• Therapies: Different types of therapies, from music and massage therapy to aromatherapy, can improve the overall well-being of seniors. For instance, massage therapy can help relieve muscle tension, lessen pain, and reduce symptoms of anxiety or stress while improving blood circulation and boosting energy. On the other hand, aromatherapy is good for relieving pain, reducing stress, and improving sleep, digestion, and appetite. 
• Cognitive exercises: Activities like memory games, puzzles, painting, gaming, reading, and music are good for improving seniors' cognitive abilities and slowing the progression of mental ailments.
• Yoga: It's an excellent way for older adults to stay active without risking muscle strain or injury. In addition, practising yoga regularly can help seniors improve their balance and flexibility, resulting in improved mood, stronger bones, and better sleep.
• Meditation and mindfulness: Meditation and mindfulness exercises involve individuals training their minds to focus or clear their thoughts. These activities can promote stress management, positive emotions, and spiritual connectivity while improving memory loss.
• Emotional care activities: These activities involve anything from pet therapy to personalised counselling sessions. Involving seniors in emotional care activities can provide emotional support, allowing them to express their emotions and feelings. It contributes to older adults' emotional stability and well-being.

Bottom Line

Incorporating holistic approaches to aged care plans can profoundly improve your elderly loved one's emotional, physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being. By honouring older adults as wholesome individuals and addressing their unique needs and preferences, holistic elderly care can pave the way to a more fulfilling, healthy, and meaningful journey through their golden years.