With well over 325 million people residing in the U.S. alone, it is difficult to think that loneliness would be so common. Yet more than half of the elderly live alone, and more than a million of them are likely to be chronically lonely. In reality, about 50% of seniors researched reported that their central resource for company is the TV.
Being lonely may result in severe health concerns as well, reported to have as great an impact as smoking and obesity, and can ultimately cause depression, hypertension, dementia, and also an earlier mortality rate than others who happen to be socially connected.
What can you do to make sure your senior loved ones avoid sinking into isolation? The Campaign to End Loneliness advocates using the following measurement tool. Check in with the seniors in your life to evaluate their answers to these three statements:
- I am satisfied with my friendships and relationships.
- I have plenty of people I feel comfortable asking for help at any time.
- My relationships are as gratifying as I would like them to be.
If loneliness is a worry for a loved one in your life, there are a lot of actions you can take that can help:
- Consult with your senior loved one’s neighbors, friends, and people in his or her religious organization to try and coordinate frequent visits.
- Incorporate technology, such as Facetime and Skype, allowing the senior to be connected remotely.
- Consider available activities and courses for older adults at the local community college, senior center, and fitness center.
It is also important to eliminate clinical depression and other health conditions as the underlying reason behind your loved one’s loneliness. A senior who’s isolating herself/himself as a consequence of psychological or physical complications requires experienced healthcare services to address the condition and receive relevant care.
One of the better strategies to decrease loneliness in seniors is through engaging the services of Generations at Home’s St. Petersburg in home care team. Our caregiving companions spend quality time with older adults through:
- Cheerful conversations
- Engaging in fulfilling activities such as playing games, cards, exercise, hobbies, and favorite pursuits
- Sharing mealtimes together
- Supplying the transportation and accompaniment necessary to help seniors remain active in the community around them
- And so much more
Contact us online or call us any time at 727-940-3414 for assistance in making sure your senior loved one is socially active and enjoying life to the fullest!
