These Things Can Increase Your Elderly Loved One’s Risk of Becoming Lonely
Companion care at home reduces loneliness through connection, conversation, and engagement
Getting old doesn’t mean that a person has to be lonely. Many elderly people lead very active lives and have strong connections with those who are important to them. But for some elderly, life changes along with health issues can increase their risk of becoming lonely and feeling isolated away from the rest of the world. These emotions can increase the possibility of negative health consequences, so if your loved one is struggling with consistent feelings of loneliness, it’s important to take significant steps to reduce the isolation they feel, such as companion care at home services.
Factors That May Increase Your Loved One’s Risk of Social Isolation and Loneliness
The following factors will not necessarily make your elderly loved one feel isolated, but they can if they aren’t addressed and your loved one doesn’t find ways to address them.
- Vision Problems: Poor vision can make it difficult for your loved one to participate in common social activities and to drive to meet friends.
- Hearing Issues: Hearing problems can make it hard for your loved one to participate in conversations and connect with others. If the hearing issues are too severe, your loved one may begin to withdraw from some social situations that make them uncomfortable.
- Financial Concerns: If your loved one has had a change in their income, they might find they can no longer afford to do some of the most costly events they used to love.
- Cognitive Challenges: Even those in the early stages of dementia may find it increasingly difficult to follow a conversation or understand the rules of a new game, reducing how they can connect with others.
- Mobility Issues: If your loved one needs a walker, wheelchair, or ECV, there may be places that are no longer accessible to them.
- Inability to Drive: If your loved one can no longer drive, they might findthey are missing out on activities or unable to participate in a hobby with others.
- Loss of friends and family: As a person ages, more people they love either move away or, unfortunately, pass away. These losses can leave large holes in their heart and may make them leery about connecting with someone again because they fear the pain connected to the loss.
- Location, location, location: While living out on a gorgeous farm or in a secluded area might have been great for peace and quiet, if your elderly loved one doesn’t have access to transportation, that distance can make it difficult for them to connect with others regularly.
Reducing Your Senior’s Isolation
Reducing isolation often helps reduce feelings of loneliness if your loved one can form true connections. Joining groups of people your age with common interests is a great way to start new connections. If health concerns such as hearing or vision loss are making connecting difficult, work with their doctor to find solutions.
Finally, if your loved one is homebound or unable to drive, providing companion care at home is important. Having a senior home care provider visit to provide some companion care at home services can make a huge difference in the feelings of loneliness they may struggle with.
Companion care at home may include playing games, sharing a cup of tea, or taking a short walk around the block while talking about the weather. These little connections can go a long way to reducing loneliness.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home in Davis, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today at (916) 897-4752
