Social Support Helps Senior Loved Ones Thrive

Studies show that one-third of adults over the age of 50 feel a sense of isolation and loneliness. The lack of social interactions is not only detrimental to their mental health but will also contribute to a decrease in physical health. According to a study done by Berkeley, socially-active seniors experience a 70% slower cognitive decline than those who do not have regular social interactions.

Because of these impactful results, families are coming up with solutions for their senior loved ones. When a family is busy with their own tasks, they may not be available to have a family member present to spend time with the aging loved one. It may be time to look to outside resources.

5 Ideas for Increasing Social Interactions for Seniors

Rather than putting all the pressure on yourself, you can benefit from the many resources that are offered to provide routine social support to your loved one. These ideas can go hand in hand with family members visiting to bake, paint, and watch favorite movies together.

Some ideas include:

Adult Day Care: There are businesses in place where seniors can receive supportive services while participating in social and recreational activities with others their age during the day. Care centers      engage seniors in games, art, music and will often provide meals throughout the day.  Many centers vary activities and events daily, ensuring your loved one has options to keep them mentally and physically active with an emphasis on socialization.

Senior Community Centers: Look up your local recreation center for seniors, where they offer exercise sessions, art classes, and language courses specifically for seniors. The center aims to gather all seniors in the community to interact and learn new things.

Transportation Services: Most communities have programs for transportation of seniors to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, and other errands. When you have a volunteer to transport the seniors to and from various places, they have an opportunity to get to know each other and make new friends.

Community Support Groups: Aging can be difficult, especially as your parent or grandparent experiences the loss of loved ones who are passing away from illnesses or old age. Community support groups are a great way to meet friends, whether it be grief support or a support group for a life-limiting condition.

In-Home Care: Schedule time with a care assistant to visit your loved one. They can help with hygiene and cleaning tasks while providing one-on-one company and interactions.

It is always a good idea to ask for help when you are the primary caretaker of a senior loved one. Caregiver burnout is real. If you want to provide social interactions outside of the home, look to one of these excellent resources.

Get Started With In-Home Care

Learn more about how you can help the senior in your life. Home Care services ensure that your loved one gets the social interactions that they yearn for each day. Reach out to our compassionate team at Bonita Springs Healthcare Services for a customized plan focused on meaningful activities and engagement that meets the care needs of your loved one.     .