Many senior citizens make the decision to age in place. While growing old in a home they’re familiar with is beneficial for a senior citizen, it can also pose some unique challenges. Staying positive and keeping their minds sharp can be challenging for an elderly person living alone. If a senior citizen is living by themselves, they might start to feel a bit isolated.
A recent study found that nearly 40 percent of senior citizens feel lonely on a regular basis. Scientists have linked feelings of isolation and loneliness to serious conditions like depression and dementia. Are you trying to help an elderly loved one combat loneliness and feelings of isolation? If so, here are some things you need to try.
Think About Hiring an In-Home Care Service
Aging in place can get increasingly challenging for a senior citizen. There might come a time when an elderly person finds it challenging to cook or clean. If you want to help your elderly loved one with these tasks and provide them with more opportunities to socialize, then hiring an in-home care service is a good idea. By hiring an in-home care service, you can send a competent and friendly professional into your elderly loved one’s residence to lend a helping hand.
Hiring an in-home care service can also provide benefits like:
· A greater sense of independence for a senior citizen
· Personalized care
· Relief for family caregivers
· A higher degree of safety
If you feel like your elderly loved one needs some extra help around the house, then it is time to reach out to the team at Like Family Home Care.
Teach Your Elderly Loved One To Use Technology
Over the past decade, humans around the world have been exposed to new methods of communicating. In the past, face-to-face meetings were the only way a person could catch up with friends and family members. With the rise of video chat tools like Google Duo, Skype and Zoom, people are able to get some face time with their loved ones without leaving the privacy of their homes.
Teaching your elderly loved one how to use these modern tools is a great idea. Being able to video chat with friends and family members can help a senior citizen combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Make Time For Your Aging Friend or Family Member
If you truly want to help an aging loved one combat loneliness, you have to make time for them. Most American adults have an extremely busy schedule. Instead of letting the hustle and bustle of everyday life get in the way of spending time with your loved ones, you need to carve out some time for them.
Visiting your loved one and taking them to a nice dinner or to run a few errands is a great idea. These visits will also provide you with an opportunity to make memories with your aging friend or family member.
With some hard work and the help of an in-home care service, you can help your elderly loved one combat loneliness.
