Preventing Loneliness in Old Age

According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, nearly a fourth of everyone 65 and older is socially isolated. That means they aren’t interacting regularly with friends, family, or other individuals.

If we don’t look for ways to prevent loneliness it can negatively impact our mental health and lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease.

As we get older, our social circle gets smaller, and we begin to lose the social connections we need to stay happy. The good news is: there are things you can do to prevent feelings of loneliness. It may require you to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while: however, the benefits you’ll receive will provide you with a higher quality of life.

Let’s take a look:

Take workout classes or join a fitness center

The older we get, the more important it is to prioritize fitness and get our bodies up and moving. Not only that, but joining a fitness center or taking workout classes can also help you meet new friends and socialize with others. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can be a world of difference, and if you meet a friend in a class that wants to go with you, you can both motivate each other to get active!

Look for volunteer opportunities

Volunteering in your local community is a great way to give back and make new friends. The best part is: there are volunteer opportunities everywhere! Consider contacting your local food bank, homeless shelter, or church to see if there are any opportunities in your area. You can also reach out to nonprofits or local organizations to see if they need a helping hand. Sometimes they will have volunteer options just for seniors so you can meet others that are your age as well.

Checkout local senior centers

Finding a local senior center in your area can help you connect with others in your community. These centers also provide engaging activities and opportunities to meet and connect with other people your age. Making it a weekly routine to visit a local senior center can improve your social life and provide you with a new network of friendships. Plus, it will be something you can look forward to every week.

Spend more time with loved ones

Don’t let the chaos of life keep you away from the ones you love most. Make sure to make time for your friends and family in your life. Don’t be afraid to call them: ask them if they want to get coffee or let them know you want to spend some more quality time with them. Your loved ones will always love you, no matter how busy they get! Keeping those connections with them will help you feel loved and keep you from feeling lonely.

Join a club or take a class

Clubs can be a great way to connect with like-minded individuals who have the same passions and interests. If you don’t know what kind of club or class you’d be interested in, don’t be afraid to explore different avenues! It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby and explore your talents, and you never know who you might meet that has similar interests as you!

How Senior Care Companions can help

At Senior Care Companions, we offer hourly and live-in care that can help seniors who need help with basic needs or suffer from loneliness. Our team will be there with you to provide you with frequent socialization and give you anything else you may need. We also have Alzheimer’s and assisted living care for those who need more specialized care.

Living with loneliness isn’t easy, and you shouldn’t have to live that way. If you’re ready to make a change in your life and think our Senior Care Companions can help, contact us today. We’d love to improve your life: anyway, we can.

Seniors need attention and love during the holidays, just like everyone else. Unfortunately, some people forget to visit their loved ones during the busiest times of the year.

Finding ways to take care of seniors during the holidays is extremely important. Doing so involves helping them with their physical, mental, and emotional needs. Let’s look into the ways you can take care of seniors during the holiday season.

Hire a Service

Some seniors might not be able to help themselves with different tasks such as:

Mobility to go places
Remembering important details and schedules
Assistance with motor skills

Whatever you may need, we here at Senior Care Companions can help. We offer various services to help seniors each day. You can find assistants to help them 24/7, or just a few hours of the day.

While you should help seniors when you can, you may need professional help. After all, you can’t be at their sides 24/7, so see if you can find a reliable service to look after them.

Plan Fun Activities

Seniors can face boredom during the holidays, especially if they don’t have people to spend time with them. Coming up with fun activities you can do with one another is important to their mental and emotional wellbeing. Potential activities include:

Sit down and play board games together
Enjoy holiday activities like eating or watching movies
Go for a walk through the park

Focus your attention on letting them have fun. Doing so can help you take care of them emotionally and mentally. For example, they could feel happy after the activities or thankful you thought of them.

Seniors can potentially become lonely and depressed during the holidays, so take the time to plan fun activities for them. Doing so can help them overcome the mundane and boring moments in their lives.

Prepare Them Ahead of Time

Some seniors may like to stick with their schedules. If you know seniors like this, you should prepare them before any activities. Some seniors may have health problems, so make sure you accommodate them.

You can do this in multiple ways such as:

Ensure they have a way to safely reach the areas if they have to use wheelchairs
Give them specific food if they have dietary restrictions
Show them pictures of who they’ll see at the event if they suffer from memory loss

You don’t want to worry them, so make sure you take some time to talk and prepare. This can help them understand the plan and feel comfortable during the activity.

Visit Them Regularly

Often people forget to help seniors with their mental and emotional health during the holidays. If you want to help them during the holidays, just visiting them is an easy way to make their day.

Visiting seniors can help them out in many ways:

Allows them to talk with someone
Shows them others care about their well-being
Help them with tasks or anything else they need

When you visit a senior, you can help them feel happy. You can also help them avoid feelings of loneliness or boredom if they have to live away from home. Even if you have seniors in your life who live on their own, you should visit them during the holidays.

Seniors recognize the time you take to visit them, so they’ll appreciate your efforts.

Ask Them What They Want

Sometimes, people try to make decisions for seniors, so you should communicate when possible. If you communicate with them, you can avoid some problems.

Ensure they do something they like and avoid boredom
Meet their personal needs and keep them safe
Learn more about them and their interests

These points can help you find an activity that will make the seniors happy. You don’t want to drag them to an activity they don’t like, so you need to communicate with them. That way, you can find something you’ll both enjoy.

Some people forget to remember each senior as a person. Make sure you show these seniors you care by asking them what they want. As you do so, you can form stronger relationships with them.

Final Comments

The holidays give you a great opportunity to show your love to the seniors in your life. Whether you want to help relatives in your family or the local seniors, you can make the holidays better for them.

If you want to help these seniors out, try out the ideas above. If you need assistance in taking care of the seniors in your life, reach out to Senior Care Companions.

Have any Questions? Just give us a call, we would love to help in any way.

“Quality Care You Can Trust – Since 2004”