Perhaps more than any other age group, seniors often feel isolated and have a sense of loneliness. There are many reasons they experience these feelings, such as the loss of a spouse or close friends, children and grandchildren growing up and becoming busy with their own lives, loved ones moving away, poor health, or limited mobility.
Seniors living with feelings of loneliness and isolation can also find themselves facing mental health issues brought on by loneliness, like depression and anxiety. Over time, both of these disorders can pose a risk to a senior’s physical health.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your aging loved one avoid feelings of loneliness and feel happier and more fulfilled. Here are five of them:
Help your senior loved one meet new people
It’s never too late to make new friends, and there are many seniors out there who want to connect with new people. Encourage your loved one to get out of the house and socialize. A local senior or community center is a great place to start.
Check into local gardening clubs, book clubs, arts and crafts classes, or physical activities like tennis or golf if your loved one can physically participate. Churches, synagogues, or other places of worship are also excellent places to meet new people.
Many seniors aren’t comfortable venturing out by themselves and mingling the first few times; attend new social events with them if you can.
Help them become familiar and comfortable with technology
Most seniors exposed to new technology, such as smartphones, pads, and laptops, have very little trouble adapting. They’ve already lived with many technological advances in their lifetime, including microwave ovens and televisions with remote controls. As a result, many of them learn how to use today’s new technology quickly and easily.
If your senior isn’t already using FaceTime, Zoom, or Facebook Messenger, show them what they’re missing and help them get connected. They’ll be able to spend more time communicating with their kids and grandkids.
Encourage them to join online communities
In addition to using technology to stay connected to family and friends, seniors can also use their devices to enjoy and connect with others through online communities. Whatever they enjoy doing – gardening, cooking, Scrabble – there’s bound to be an online group for it.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram give older adults a simple way to stay connected with old friends around the world and join communities of people who share their same interests.
Help them identify opportunities to volunteer
Another great way to combat loneliness is by volunteering. By getting out and helping others, your loved one will have the opportunity to socialize with other people, and they’ll enjoy the feeling of satisfaction that comes with giving back to their community. Help your senior loved one brainstorm about the type of charity work they’d like to do and encourage them to get started immediately.
Help them adopt a pet
Pets make great companions for seniors, and there are usually shelters nearby where a senior can find a dog or cat to adopt. Take the time to research different breeds of dogs and find one that your senior can easily care for. People who work or volunteer in these shelters can usually provide helpful advice to a senior selecting a pet.
Seniors Prefer Homecare Helps Seniors Fight Loneliness
Seniors Prefer Homecare helps adults aging at homestay connected and avoid feeling isolated and lonely. Our companionship care provides the social interaction that helps seniors in Alabama happily age in place.
If you live in the Huntsville or Tuscaloosa areas, contact us today about our personalized in-home senior care services. Our carefully screened and dependable companion caregivers would love to spend time with your loved one enjoying fun indoor and outdoor activities.