Building Self Esteem in Elderly Nursing Home Patients

Building self esteem in elderly nursing home patients can benefit all that are involved with the aged person, from the Nursing Staff to the Kitchen Staff to even the cleaning Staff. Then there are also the Elderly family, if the aged person is happy with the Nursing Home then the Patient will show signs of being satisfied. Then the family will be reassured by their loved one's voice that they have chosen the best place for their loved one to reside in. It is like a snow ball effect...one is happy and then all are happy.

Building Self Esteem

The Elderly are very vulnerable when they are at the mercy of a Nursing Home. If the Elderly are used to living at the Home and have a strong personality then they will feel reassured about speaking out and having self-esteem. But if they are new to the Nursing Home, or have a change in their care plan needs because of their own health then it is most likely that their Self Esteem will need to be reassessed.

To take away their independence and to take over their care takes time for the aged to adjust to their new way of life. It is a lot sometimes for the aged person to get used to. Most times the Elderly person was very independent at home and moving around freely but then end up needing care because their health changes, their eyesight changes or they have a fall and break bones. Once they feel like they are no longer able to take care of their daily living then their self-esteem is soon affected. It will become obvious that they have low self-esteem, and it will become very important for the aged well-being to have their Self Esteem Built back up.

Five Easy Steps To Build Self Esteem

1. Ask the Elderly to help make decisions about their day-to-day living as much as possible. So instead of making choices for them, ask how the aged how they would like to be assisted.


2. Give them a small tasks that they are able to complete. Even something as basic as folding the face washers or the towels make the Elder feel important.


3. Ask the aged person what they used to like doing. Did they like gardening? Or painting? Or maybe sewing. Set up activities that the person is able to take part in and enjoy. You will soon see their Self Esteem boosted.


4. Show the person you care about their thoughts, opinions and their history. Get involved in their earlier life and share their memories. If they have photos of their life then ask if you can sit and look through the photos together.


5. Use the Elderly person name every time you speak with them in a conversation. Try to remember that person name so that they can feel important and loved.

Building Self Esteem in Elderly Nursing Home Patients takes time and team work. From the top of the management team to the AIN, EEN, RN, kitchen staff, laundry staff and also the cleaning staff. If the same view-point comes from the top of the staff to the bottom of the staff then it will shine through to all at the Nursing Home. The Patients will feel safe, will feel the love among the staff and will have their Self Esteem in tact.

There was a study carried out to see the effects of Self Esteem on Nursing Home Residents which you can read by going to this page Geratic Nursing

Keeping Self Esteem High

Once you have the Self Esteem back on track for the Elderly then it is just as important to keep the Self Esteem High. If one of the members of the staff start to speak in a voice that has no respect for the Elderly then all the staff need to pull together to turn the situation around and address the Elderly in a way that shows the person feels loved and cared about. It is important for our aged generation to feel love, to feel peace and to know that they were once an important person in society.

For more topics about Aged Care Nursing in Australia go to Nursing Issues - where one Nurse talks about lots of topics covered within Nursing Homes and the Nursing staff.