Ways to Prevent Loneliness in Seniors

The effects of loneliness are serious and have been measured scientifically. A University of Chicago study found that blood pressure and stress levels are far higher in people who consider themselves lonely. A Brigham Young University found that loneliness is as deadly as obesity or smoking. Combating loneliness in seniors can be challenging. A lot can be achieved with a good plan and properly implementing it.

Don’t overdo it

Everyone is different and you want to identify the right amount of social time for your senior. Remember, alone time is healthy as well. Some people just enjoy their solo activities more than others. There’s nothing wrong with reading or gardening for a good portion of the day.

You can help out by understanding their interests and helping them engage in them better. Maybe there’s a hobby convention coming up that they need a ride to. Or find them books on the topic, as they might not be familiar with online shopping.

It’s well established that energy levels go down as one gets older. As someone who’s probably significantly younger, don’t impose your own standards. They might not want to be a social butterfly with their calendar filled with events.

Regular visitors

Try to have people regularly visit their residence. This could be friends, neighbors, or family. Sometimes a caregiver works, even if it’s only for a short period every day.

In other situations, a roommate might work. A nice side benefit is that this would decrease your housing costs. There are senior matchmakers, which take into account common lifestyles and interests.

Encourage activity

One great activity that almost everyone can appreciate is volunteering. There are so many opportunities, whether it’s feeding the homeless or reading to children. Your senior will get out of the house, stay active and meet people. They’re helping the beneficiaries and building a better neighborhood to live in. It’s a win-win situation.

An opportunity often ignored is senior centers. It’s a great place to socialize and often they’re free or have low fees. They teach people new skills such as chair yoga or sculpture.

Technology

Technology makes it a lot easier for seniors to stay up-to-date with what’s going on. Make sure your senior has all his friends and family added on social networks like Facebook.

A senior can use a cellphone to talk and text. Zoom can be used to video-chat.

The internet can be a great place to meet people. There are chat rooms and forums for every interest imaginable.

If your senior loves learning, consider a massive open online course (MOOC). They’re offered in every academic subject and some practical ones as well. It’s essentially an online course. Many of them are free.

Get a Pet

The National Institute of Health has found that short-term bonding lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases the production of the positive-feelings hormone serotonin.

However, your senior must be able to properly care for the pet. Some pets, particularly dogs and cats can be high maintenance. They need to be fed, cleaned up after, and taken for a daily walk perhaps.

If your senior isn’t able to take care of a pet, consider animal volunteer opportunities. There are animal shelters in every city that need help.

Join a Senior Community

Most independent and assisted-living communities have amenities like weekly happy hours and restaurant-style dining. There’s often a shuttle bus to local stores and theatres. Outdoor activities like gardening are also offered. Even if your elderly parent or loved one is healthy, well, and mobile, it can still be worth exploring the possibility of moving them to somewhere like this dedicated community for senior living Chester County PA. In developments such as this, not only are the homes low maintenance, but a prevalence of clubhouses and social spaces means your senior can develop new friendships, take part in group activities, pursue their hobbies, and thrive well into their old age.

If, however, your senior is struggling with Alzheimer’s or another health issue that affects their memory and recall, there are also facilities that are tailored to offer comprehensive memory care. They have games and multisensory experiences for residents with dementia that stop loneliness.

Loneliness in seniors is a serious problem. There are many ways you can fight it.