Social isolation in the elderly can be a very serious problem. This leads to feelings of loneliness, an emotion that can affect one’s mental health and overall wellbeing. Things become more challenging for older people, especially because this is the time of their life when they are looking for a companion to help them get by each day.
While it is really hard to avoid loneliness at this point in their lives, there are specific things you can do to help them thrive in the community they live in. The secret is to not leave the place they live in empty because their idea of life is one where children are busy running around, and giggling while making conversations. They must have been used to having people around them and being visited by friends who warm their hearts.
It All Starts from You
When families grow, they tend to go. This means that more people in the home tend to go their own way after achieving what they want in life, making themselves busy with other things, but forgetting to pay attention to the people who they grew up with. This is where the feeling of isolation and loneliness starts for the older members of the family.
As the younger person who is expected to take care of your loved ones’ needs, it is a matter of making time. If you do not have time, it may be time to consider having your loved one join an independent living community like GreenTree at Westwood where they can mingle with other people their age, and enjoy the activities that they offer.
Friends Come Next
Your loved ones are used to being visited by friends who they can talk to. In this day and age, however, things have already changed. Some friends forget while some do remember. The one thing you must do to help them deal with their loneliness is to give them assurance that they can still connect with friends through social media.
They can exchange emails, chat on social media, and make phone calls every now and then. In case your loved one has a hard time using computers, then you can slowly introduce them to the technology. It may take time for them to learn, but your affirmation that you are there to guide them will help soothe their feelings of loneliness.
Allow Them to Be Part of A Community
Volunteering in a community is a personal decision that your loved ones will make, but you can encourage them to be part of it. They can be out giving snacks after Sunday worship services or masses. They can also volunteer to take care of neighbors’ kids during the weekend if they can still manage to do it.
There are a lot of other things your loved ones can do to avoid loneliness. They can be part of a group with the same vision as theirs. They can also engage in health and fitness activities> in the community they live in. anything that keeps them busy will be good to overcome the feeling that solitude brings. Support them in their endeavors and they will thank you for it.
