Isolation and loneliness are incredibly common among seniors. Feeling isolated and lonely has been linked to several health issues — including a higher risk of mortality, increased risk of dementia, and long-term illnesses, such as arthritis, depression, and chronic lung disease. Children of senior parents often want to help their parents feel less lonely and isolated, but they may not know how to help. Here are some tips.
Encourage Eating Meals with Others
Adult children can help combat their senior parents’ loneliness by encouraging them to eat with others whenever possible. Children can suggest their parents have their friends over for a meal or meet regularly at a local restaurant. Children can also dine with their parents regularly to help combat isolation. Fostering a social environment can be paramount to an elderly person’s overall well-being.
Find a Companion
Adult children can help their senior parents get a companion pet if they’re both willing and able to care for one. Companion pets provide numerous benefits to seniors, such as staving off depression and loneliness, feeling more secure, having a reason to get up in the morning, and helping establish new friends.
Encourage Them to Join Activities
Children of seniors can encourage their parents to join activities to help combat isolation and loneliness. Some activities offered in local communities may include bingo, bridge games, knitting or crafting groups, book clubs, and exercise programs. Seniors could also volunteer at a local animal shelter, library, school, church, or hospital.
Learn Something New
Encouraging seniors to learn something new will also help prevent loneliness. Seniors can check out classes offered at local community colleges and libraries or take an online course. They might want to learn a new language, how to knit or crochet, how to garden, how to cook new foods or take a dance class.
Assisted Living Communities
Not only does an assisted living community offer help with daily activities, such as medication management and coordinating doctor’s appointments, but they also provide protection against isolation and loneliness.
At The Arbors Assisted Living Communities, we offer a variety of social activities to keep seniors engaged and active. We offer numerous activities to meet all of our residents’ needs and interests, including exercising, stretching, movies, ice cream socials, pet therapy, trivia, manicures, cooking club, and music. Also, we have special holiday celebrations and planned outings.
Learn more about our communities. Contact us to schedule a tour. We look forward to meeting you!