The time of year is here when opening the front door, taking a little stroll to the local park, chatting with neighbors, and soaking up the sunshine with others is becoming more difficult. For many areas of the country, the shorter days and colder weather mean getting outside and getting around is more difficult. Companion care at home services can be a helpful interruption for aging seniors.
If you have an elderly loved one, that ability to get out and socialize can become even more difficult if they are uncomfortable driving after dark or cannot drive on their own. It means they must wait at home most of the day until someone else can transport them into the world. And while the home provides comfort, it can also isolate and create loneliness.
Loneliness and Seniors
Seniors are among the most likely groups to be deeply affected by loneliness. Loneliness isn’t necessarily being alone but a feeling of not having any human connections. A person can live alone and not feel lonely, just as they can experience loneliness even when in the presence of others.
For seniors, loneliness runs the risk of developing other health conditions or worsening the ones they already have. Loneliness has been linked to earlier death, heart disease, diabetes, and dementia, making companion care at home providers all the more needful.
Tips for Reducing Loneliness
It’s important to talk to your senior and discover how she’d like to reconnect with others, especially in these upcoming colder months when those easy connection points of simply going outside are more difficult.
For some seniors, simply being out in the community will help reduce feelings of loneliness. In contrast, others will want opportunities to connect one-on-one with people or participate in social events.
Here are some suggestions you can make to your senior for ways to connect in the upcoming months.
Join a Club or Group
Having a regularly planned weekly or bi-weekly gathering might be just what your loved one needs to connect with peers. It can be a senior water aerobic class at a local senior center, a book club that meets for coffee every week, or a walking club that walks at indoor locations every morning.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and connect with others. It’s often a perfect fit for seniors since they have more time on their hands than those still in the working community.
Almost every non-profit organization is always looking for volunteers to help with a myriad of tasks. If your loved one has a passion for any non-profits, now is a great time to connect her with one.
Arrange Regular Phone Calls
Family members who live far away may wonder what they can do to help. Arranging for weekly phone calls from family members will allow your loved one to connect with those she loves who live far away. Those regular phone calls can remind her that she still has plenty of people who love her even if they can’t visit often.
Provide Companion Care at Home
Your loved one may enjoy having someone visit the home regularly to visit and spend time with her. A companion care at home provider will do that. Hiring someone to provide companion care at home services means your loved one can expect a regular guest with whom she can play games, enjoy a cup of coffee, or catch up on the latest celebrity gossip. It adds the perfect human touch without your loved one having to leave the safety of her home.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Brandon, FL, please contact the caring staff at Family First Healthcare Services today at (813) 461-8000.
Family First Healthcare Services is a top provider of in-home health services in Tampa, Bradenton, Brandon, Riverview, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Town ‘n’ Country, Florida, and surrounding areas.
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