5 Ways to Help Seniors Avoid Loneliness

Loneliness is a problem for everyone sometime, but seniors often have a harder time it than the rest of us. Health and safety concerns may make them feel isolated. Friends may have passed away or are dealing with health issues of their own. Younger family members are so busy. But our senior family members are precious and our time with them may be short - so truly consider these ways to include your elders and help them avoid loneliness:

1. Make Personal Visits Whenever Possible

Put a regular visit in your calendar—and keep it. Someday, when you’re older and feeling lonely, you’ll appreciate visits too. Just set aside the time and make it happen. You’ll come to find you treasure these visits. Even if you don’t live in the area, arrange for regular Skype or FaceTime calls.

2. Ask them About their Lives and Listen

Elder loved ones have a lot of wisdom and experience to share with us. Come to your visits with some fun questions or journal entry prompts that can get them reminiscing about some of the key moments of their lives. Family stories can then be recorded and passed to future generations—a true treasure!

3. Grieve with Them

Going through the aging process is hard on many levels. They may be grieving friends, a spouse and other family members. The grieving process can even include the feeling of loss when a health problem prevents them doing something they’ve always loved doing. Sit with them and listen. Don’t just tell them to snap out of it – be there for them. Let them cry and hold your hand. Showing love and concern can help them through this hard time.

4. Take Them to Events They Love

If they struggle with mobility, arrange the necessary transportation and adaptations to help them get out of the home to visit places and events that make them happy: social gatherings, clubs, music concerts, plays, religious services, family parties, museums—even shopping can be therapeutic.

5. Provide a Purpose

Your senior loved one has a lifetime of knowledge and experience to share. Even in spite of health and mobility concerns, there are ways they can share this experience in the community. What have they always been passionate about? Photography? Sewing? Writing? Cooking? Activism? A cultural or language experience? Invite them to teach a short class or be involved in a charity project that gets them excited. Everyone needs to feel needed, so think of ways to help your elders experience this feeling regularly.

At Home Personal Care specializes in helping seniors find their passion. Call us today: (703) 330-2323