It’s the holiday season, a time when many people reflect on the year and their lives in general. Starting with Thanksgiving and on through the new year, many people consider all the people and things in their lives to be grateful for. But did you know that there are many great reasons to have an “attitude of gratitude” throughout the year? Allow us to take a moment to explain some of the benefits of feeling gratefulness, and how Philadelphia in home caregivers and home care clients can incorporate more gratitude into their daily routines throughout the year!

Feeling and expressing gratitude has positive implications for caregivers and clients alike.

Did you know that those who score higher on a gratitude scale are prone to improved physical health? According to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences, people who consciously make an effort to be grateful report feeling fewer aches and pains. This could have huge implications for seniors in home care, or others suffering from physical pain. Many studies seem to show that the way we perceive the world can affect our physical health for better or worse; it seems that an attitude of gratefulness could affect physical health for better.

Another important outcome of expressing gratitude is the possibility of building or growing new relationships – this can be especially important for seniors who may feel somewhat isolated from family or friends. How does it work? Simply making eye contact and saying “thank you” when someone does something for you is a great way to foster social interaction, and it might even result in opening doors to new relationships…it certainly seems easier to approach a person when they are smiling with gratitude!

Most importantly, and most simply – a conscious effort to be grateful can improve a person’s mood almost instantaneously. It costs nothing, takes little time, and can have such wonderful outcomes…why not try it today?

So, how can caregivers and clients in home care bring more gratitude into their lives?

“Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows, and the more power you have to use it on your behalf. If you do not practice gratefulness, its benefaction will go unnoticed, and your capacity to draw on its gifts will be diminished. To be grateful is to find blessings in everything. This is the most powerful attitude to adopt, for there are blessings in everything.” (Anonymous)

Just as the quote states, a person must actively exercise gratitude often in order for it to become a natural state of being over time. Here are some easy tasks for in home caregivers and home care clients to try…

• At the beginning of a shift, a caregiver and client can exchange one thing they are each grateful for.
• Write down one thing you’re grateful for every day, put it in a jar, and at the end of the year, re-read how wonderful the year really was.
• Keep each other accountable – have a “gratefulness buddy” who will check in with you and remind you of things to be grateful for.

Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses is grateful for our clients – could we be a good fit for your family?

At Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses, our caregivers are incredibly competent and compassionate. In home care provides a great opportunity to make sure a senior’s needs are taken care of, and also that they are receiving the best care possible. But don’t take it from us – please visit our Client Testimonial page to see what others have to say about working with Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses. We hope to hear from you!

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