How to Inspire Seniors With a List of Their Accomplishments

It’s undeniable that we begin to look at our lives differently as we age, often reminiscing about what we’ve accomplished and — potentially even more so — what we haven’t yet done. Seniors may experience numerous emotions recounting their adventures and experiences, including sadness or depression about the future. The good news is that loved ones can help seniors not only recognize their accomplishments but also fuel the fire to accomplish even more before their time is up. 

Examples of Accomplished Seniors

Sometimes, we learn or gain strength by watching others. Here are a few accomplished seniors who took the time they had, regardless of their age, to accomplish what was most important to them: 

• Yuichiro Miura summited Mount Everest at the age of 80

• Nola Ochs got her bachelor’s degree at 95

• Masako Wakamiya designed her own mobile app at age 81 

• Harriette Thompson ran a marathon at 91

• Johanna Quaas is the oldest active gymnast at 88 

• Gloria Tramontin Struck still rides her Harley-Davidson motorcycle at age 90 

• Fred Mack went skydiving for his 100th birthday 

Haverhill seniors certainly don’t have to start hiking 14ers or swimming across large expanses of water to accomplish something of personal value. Instead, it’s about understanding what goals mean the most to seniors and how family members and loved ones can support making those dreams a reality. 

How to Inspire Seniors With a List of Their Accomplishments

Recognizing our accomplishments often requires a change in perspective. Here are a few ways you can help the senior in your life realize how much they’ve accomplished in their lives: 

• Encourage seniors to start a gratitude journal where they discuss what they’re thankful for

• Create a weekly calendar where seniors can write an accomplishment for the day and review them at the end of the week 

• Participate in activities seniors are passionate about and ask them about how it all started

• Ask seniors how they overcame something you may be struggling with 

• Invite friends and family members to speak to seniors about how they’ve been inspired

• Write down or record a senior’s memories and compile them in a biography or autobiography 

Moving forward, family members can help seniors recognize their accomplishments by reviewing the day’s events. What challenges did they face and overcome? How did they positively impact the lives of others? 

Inspiring Seniors to Create and Achieve Additional Goals

With newfound perspective on their life’s accomplishments, seniors may want to add a few more to the list. Help seniors create achievable goals by implementing the SMART method: 

• Specific 

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Relevant 

• Time-bound 

For example, seniors wishing to take a cooking class can decide what type of class they want to take (specific), how long of a class will fulfill their desire (measurable), if that class is offered in their area (achievable), what they can do with the knowledge gained from that class (relevant), and when they want to have taken the class by (time-bound).

Right at Home Haverhill Supports Seniors in Their Goals

The caregivers at Right at Home Haverhill dedicate themselves to assisting seniors in accomplishing their goals, from preparing a meal or attending a social event to even bigger dreams. If you’d like to learn more about Right at Home Haverhill and our senior home care services, contact us to schedule a free consultation.