Maintaining a healthy social life into the senior years offers many benefits and helps to avoid the isolation and loneliness that can be linked to poor physical and mental health.
Seniors tend to increasingly rely on themselves, not wanting to become a burden to others. However, the risk of injury and depression escalate as the elderly isolate themselves and avoid social contact.
Social Isolation is a growing problem among the elderly, but it can be avoided if family members take the steps to encourage the social interaction that can reverse this negative trend.
Here are some suggestions to help your senior loved ones get the socialization they need:
- Deal with health issues head on. Some problems, such as incontinence, are embarrassing. Seniors may simply avoid socializing or even just talking about it. Seniors with undiagnosed or untreated hearing problems may avoid social situations, as well. Difficulty communicating or seeing can also be a source of embarrassment. Approach a necessary discussion from a standpoint of love, so you can provide solutions to any health issue that is preventing a loved one from socializing with others. Speak with a doctor for suggestions and schedule hearing and vision tests.
- Encourage caring for something. Having a pet or plant to care for helps to assuage feelings of uselessness and loneliness. An appropriate pet or container garden provides a sense of purpose. There have even been reports of a link between senior pet owners and a decreased need for medication.
- Provide transportation. Don’t wait for your loved one to ask for a ride to go to the doctor, a social activity, or shopping. Schedule your availability to drive or check out bus or senior shuttle schedules in the area. Paying for a bus pass or senior transportation services can be a huge help and welcomed gift.
- Urge religious attendance. For those who regularly attended church or temple, this important weekly activity can help keep your loved one connected to life-long friends and provide a support system that extends beyond immediate family members. Organize arrangements for transportation to and from church so that one barrier to attendance is removed.
- Create a homey environment. Whether your loved one is living in an assisted living community or is at home, help make the environment special by ensuring that it is kept clean and that worn décor is refreshed. Display pictures, set out memorabilia, give walls a fresh coat of paint, hang new curtains … whatever makes the residence more inviting.
- Demonstrate how technology can help. Social media, video phone calls, and gaming applications on tablets, cell phones, and laptop computers can be used to stay connected and engaged. Walk your loved one through the tutorials for one app at a time and review until it becomes easy to access and use.
- Plan visits as frequently as possible. A holiday visit or one that is more frequent is looked forward to with anticipation and is most beneficial to the mental and emotional health of your loved one.
- Encourage social engagements. Urge your senior to visit or have dinner with friends and to participate in community activities. Discuss what is going on in the community or assisted living facility and encourage your love one to join in.
- Remember to promote hobbies and special interests. Seniors with hobbies are much less likely to become socially isolated, as many hobbies and interests are naturally social.
- Support fitness activities. Help seniors get and stay fit by suggesting appropriate physical activities that are available at YWCAs, fitness clubs, and at assisted living communities, geared especially to seniors.
Any one of these suggestions can pave the way for social connectiveness that is so important in preventing the feelings of isolation and the negative health aspects it can bring. Speak to a health care professional for other ideas or to discuss your particular situation.
Transition Liquidation Services helps seniors and their families deal with issues concerning right-sizing, decluttering, transitioning, and elder care. For more information, call Marie LeBlanc at Transitions Liquidation Services at 617-513-0433.