what should a home care provider really be doing?
Tips For Combatting Elderly Loneliness
Adrian Cano
Loneliness is a serious concern for elderly and aging family members, especially when mobility is limited and social interactions have declined. Even if your loved one is living with you, he or she may still struggle with loneliness. This emotional isolation and persistent loneliness can even lead to depression and physical illness. Understanding some of the most common root causes of loneliness can help you protect your loved one and still ensure that they get the care and attention that they need.
What Causes Elderly Loneliness?
There are many reasons why aging loved ones might struggle with loneliness. Sometimes, they avoid interactions because they are battling a specific condition and they're afraid to seek the care that they need. Declined hearing can make social interactions difficult, leaving them feeling isolated.
Further, sometimes the hectic daily schedules that we lead may leave our elderly loved ones feeling ignored. In some cases, serious illnesses can reduce mobility, which reduces accessibility to social interactions. Gradually, this can cause a loved one's social circle to shrink, leaving them feeling alone.
How Can You Help With Elderly Loneliness?
In addition to increasing your family support, providing in-home care service can help your senior family members to feel less alone. A home caregiver provides direct personal interaction, and many services even offer medical and emotional support, too. If your loved one is looking to stay in their home (or yours) for as long as possible, this in-home care can help them do just that. After all, having a comfortable and familiar environment is important, especially when it's a neighborhood that they have spent many years in.
It's also important that you encourage your loved one to be as active as possible. The more involved he or she is in the neighborhood, the more social interaction they can maintain. Even if you need to provide transportation, giving them access to events like book clubs, park outings or senior bingo can make a big difference.
Don't let struggles with health care, personal care and social interactions leave your loved one feeling isolated and abandoned. With the help of a supportive in-home care service and a commitment on your part to keep your loved one engaged, you'll be able to combat the loneliness and isolation that can come with aging. Clicking here will give you more information about the best options for your family, including medical support and social integration.
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If you have a home health care worker in your home, you know very well how helpful he or she can be. What you may not know is what all that worker is supposed to be doing while in your home. Does the service provide general housecleaning services? Should he or she be doing laundry for the one that they are caring for? My blog will show you what services may or may not be offered by home health care services so that you can look further into what the service you have hired is supposed to be doing in your home.