According to a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study, over 40% of seniors regularly experience feelings of loneliness. Yet just because seniors are entering into their golden years, does not always mean they have to live with feelings of lonesomeness. Here are some ways that could help them.
1-Get family and friends involved.
In order to combat loneliness, it’s important to schedule time with loved ones. Strong social connections can reduce health problems such as high blood pressure and depression. Thus, for seniors and disabled people, a scheduled time with friends and family can help suppress feelings of isolation. This could be a monthly dinner, weekly stroll through the park, or even a daily face time.
2-Enlist the help of a personal support worker or companion.
A home health aide is one of the best ways to help provide companionship to an aging loved one. With specialized training, aides can act as company to your loved one. They also can assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), health monitoring, and even light errands.
3-Join a community project.
Another great way to engage in social activities is to join a community project. This gives the senior or disable person the opportunity to get out of the house and spend time with other likeminded individuals. There are a plethora of services and community groups to choose from. It could be a bible study, local gardening club, bowling team, walkathon a trip to the library.
4-Get seniors connected on the internet.
If your loved one has mobility issues, you can always use the power of the internet. An online video chat or message means the world to those who feel isolated. Caregivers can get creative in the ways to connect aging loved ones to their community, there are many disabled organizations that have chat and live activities via zoom, teams or other social media. This can be an online monopoly game, a virtual bridge tournament, or bi-coastal game of scrabble, brain game, world touring.
*Eminence is here for you, call or email us, with your ideas and your needs. hr@eminencefirst.com