Many seniors lose their self-esteem as they age. They will have lived through a whole host of significant life changes, and experienced love, life and loss at every level. However, it is at this age that they really need to focus on boosting their self-esteem. Higher self-esteem means that they will be practicing self-care, be able to continue living independently, and experience greater feelings of wellbeing.

An aging relative is more likely to suffer from:

   •   Chronic health conditions
   •   Depression
   •   Loneliness
   •   Obesity
   •   Substance abuse

You know yourself how, when life gets tough, the impact on your self-esteem can be huge. You want to stay in, put on your pajamas, eat chocolate and watch a box set. You want to hide from the world, but all this does is further isolate you and make you feel worse. You feel invisible and miserable. So, imagine nobody recognizing that you are struggling, and that it is just a symptom of your age. Confidence can be knocked, and while you can instill a sense of security with the best medical alert systems so that you feel safe when you leave the house, it is often your self-belief that limits your quality of life.

Do you have an elderly relative who is sitting on the sidelines? Chances are high that you do, and this is your opportunity to reach out and make a difference. Here are 3 ways to help your relative look and feel good:

It feels superficial to write about makeup to boost self-esteem, but many women feel that as they have aged, they have lost their beauty. This can be exasperated by never having updated their makeup techniques over the years. Go to a department store and have a makeover. It’s something different to do, and she may even learn to be a contouring queen!

Tip: If they do not like wearing heavy or lots of makeup, invest in brands such as Glossier. Glossier strive to enhance your natural beauty, rather than cover it up!

As you get older, you need to be able to maintain your stamina and health. Swimming is a great exercise for improving heart health and better flexibility. Furthermore, there is little risk of injury. Not only is exercise great for your body, but it releases the feel-good hormones endorphins.

Diet plays a significant role in stabilizing and even boosting mood. As people age, they can start to rely more on convenience foods rather than cooking from scratch. If you can, next time you are cooking at home, make more so that you can fill their freezer with portions of nutrient-rich food. A vitamin supplement will also help to boost mood, especially over the winter months when vitamin D from the sunlight is in short supply.

No matter what age you are, the social connections that you have are most important. Great friendships and a loving family are the key ingredients for self-esteem, but with seniors, they are even more important and are vital to their happiness. By helping your elderly relative look and feel good, you are giving them the tools for self-care.