Assessing The Causes Of Loneliness and Finding Appropriate Social Support For Seniors
Discover the causes of loneliness and how to help with Social Support For Seniors:
Loneliness is an unhappy reality for many seniors, according to research from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, with as many as one-third of persons between the ages of 50 and 80 suffering from it.
What’s more terrible is that loneliness can have serious implications beyond mental distress, since loneliness can have a negative impact on a senior’s physical health. As a result, seniors should have social support networks in place so that they can thrive and reduce their risk of health issues such as cognitive decline, heart disease, obesity, and other issues.
Also Read: Intergenerational Activities For Senior Citizens: Benefits and Barriers
According to one study from UC Berkeley, elderly people who have frequent social contacts have 70 percent lower risks of cognitive deterioration than those who have little to no social interaction. Senior citizens can thrive and have a higher quality of life if an atmosphere with strong social support networks is created.
Identifying and Addressing The Causes of Loneliness
Fortunately, the effects of loneliness can be reversed, and while researchers are still figuring out the best approach to do so, it all relies on why the senior feels lonely or isolated in the first place.
Do they, for example, feel alone in dealing with the repercussions of grieving following the death of a spouse? Are they learning to live with a chronic condition and feeling as if no one else understands? Is there a loss of movement that makes leaving the house without the help of others difficult?
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Addressing the Causes of Loneliness Using Social Support For Seniors And Other Community-Based Services
There are around 15,000 senior centers in the United States today. That’s because having access to a group of people with whom they may socialize can help them reduce the causes of loneliness which improve their psychological and physical well-being, reduce stress, improve their physical health, and avoid mental health issues like despair and anxiety.
The following are some examples of community-based services that are frequently provided at senior centers:
- Adult day-care facilities
- Support groups for people who are grieving
- Support groups for people with chronic illnesses
- Assistance with finances and legal matters
- Services for meals
- Services for transportation
- Zumba and yoga exercise classes
- Arts and humanities activities
- Finding Social Support for an Elderly Family Member
It may take time for an elderly person to figure out what is making them feel lonely and isolated because they may not be fully aware of the reasons they are unhappy. It is impossible to overestimate the value of self-awareness. Almost any Social Support For Seniors can help you improve your self-awareness and self-confidence. Let’s imagine you’re not sure which activities might make your loved one feel less isolated and more connected to their peers. In that instance, strategies such as talking about their feelings in therapy, blogging, group exercise, or discovering any social activity they enjoy and expanding out from there might assist enhance self-awareness.
Also Discover: THE DANGERS OF SENIOR ISOLATION AND LONELINESS TO THEIR HEALTH
Consider In-Home Caregiving for Your Elderly Loved Ones as a Source of Companionship and Assistance
One method to ensure that your senior friend or family member receives the care and attention they require and deserve is to hire in-home care, which allows them to age in place, at home, and without the fear of loneliness going unrecognized. In-home caregivers, such as those from Care At Heart LLC, can provide your loved ones with the company they require to thrive and assist them in finding meaningful activities.
Please contact our staff at Care At Heart LLC at (610) 765-0497 to discuss in-home caring.