Aging can be a challenging and emotional experience. Families in Edmonton and St.Albert may struggle with the impacts of aging. If you are a caregiver for your aging parents or family members, you may struggle with uncertainty on how to support their emotional and physical well being. Being a caregiver can also be rewarding and empowering. If you are navigating being a caregiver while trying to uphold your own mental and physical well-being, Wholesome is here to help! At Wholesome Psychology, we provide counseling and support for families and seniors. Our approach is centred around compassion and respect, we want to ensure everyone who attends our office feels welcome.
Understanding the Challenges of Aging Parents
Aging shows in physical and psychological ways. Many physical and cognitive changes occur that can alter how someone interacts with their peers and family members. Adult children often struggle with hard decisions regarding caregiving, independence, safety, and health care for their parents. Seniors may struggle with isolation,loneliness, and grief. As cognitive abilities decline it can be harder to function in day to day life. Seniors may also struggle with adapting to daily life and finding a new routine after retirement.
These challenges often impact every generation of the family. Stress, sadness, and sometimes anxiety can arise when noticing that a loved one is aging or starting to decline. These emotions and caregiver burnout may lead to family conflict or strained relationships between family members and peers. It is normal to feel overwhelmed when taking on the caregiver role, it comes with many changes and often happens quickly. At Wholesome we provide support for caregivers, families and seniors who may be feeling the impact of aging. We ensure everyone's wishes are respected and work towards health boundaries and goal setting. Mental and physical wellness are important to us and we want to provide the best care when it comes to improving our clients well-being.
When is Counseling for Aging Parents Helpful?
- If a parent or family member starts to feel isolated, depressed or is struggling to manage anxiety related to their changing lives.
- The family is conflicted about what care is needed or interested in learning next steps about care and living situations
- If being a caregiver has started to impact your mental health or even your physical health
- Coping with diagnoses related to neurocognitive diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer's.
- Struggling with grief due to a change in your relationships or loss of relationships
- Grief due to loss of independence or routine
- To work on communication between family members and caregivers
At Wholesome psychology our therapist provides a specialized treatment approach to best suit you and your family's needs to make sure the aging process is as smooth as possible.
The Benefits of Counseling
Counselling to manage the aging process can help individuals process their emotions and make goals that can lead them to improved well-being. Wholesome psychology provides counselling for individuals and families in Edmonton and St. Albert. Some improvements that come from counselling include:
- Having better communication between parents, siblings, and caregivers
- Settle conflicts regarding a loved one's care, finances and living arrangements.
- Address grief, loss, or feelings of anxiety and isolation
- Learn and create coping strategies for stress management
- Empower seniors to express their wishes and preferences for themselves
View our local resources page to learn more about senior support programs.
Our therapists are experienced in geriatric psychology, Family and intergenerational issues.Backgrounds and beliefs shape lives and we approach each session with an understand of this. We work collaboratively to ensure you receive what you need from counselling.
Counseling for Family Caregivers
If you are a caregiver caring for an aging parent, your own mental and physical well being is just as important as theirs. Caregivers often become so focused on their loved one’s health that they forget to look after themselves. Not taking care of yourself can cause burnout and resentment or fatigue. These all can weigh heavily on your well-being.
Counseling can help you:
- Express your thoughts and worries without guilt or judgment
- Learn stress management and self-care strategies
- Understand and navigate role changes (from child to caregiver)
- Learn about support groups or respite resources in the Edmonton & St. Albert areas
- Understand and learn healthy boundary setting and assertive communication techniques
Additional Support for aging parents and their families
If your family is facing challenges such as dementia, Alzheimer's,elder abuse, we can provide tailored support. Our therapists are experienced in helping families understand cognitive changes and provide additional resources to best support your care:
Take the Next Step: Book a Consultation
If you’re considering aging parents counseling please reach out to us today. Our team is available to listen to your needs, answer your questions, and connect you with the right therapist for you or your loved ones. Explore our psychologists and therapists or contact us for your first appointment.
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