For many people, the holidays are a time for gathering with friends and family. Spending time with the families we’re born with and the families we choose is what helps us thrive during the cold and dark winter months. For the elderly, however, holidays can remind them of family members and friends lost over the years. And that their traditional holiday gatherings and holiday parties just aren’t the same as they were when they were younger.
Their own parents and grandparents are gone, and now their children have grown and moved away. Elderly people feel a deep sense of loss at the holidays. Downsizing often reminds seniors of past holiday traditions, triggering sadness and loneliness. These feelings can increase the risks of depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s.
A Serious Issue for Senior Care
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, more than 1 in 3 older Americans feel lonely, and more than a quarter of senior citizens are socially isolated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that social isolation and loneliness can have significant health effects including:
- Up to a 50% increase in risk for dementia
- Higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide
- Increased risk of hospitalization and death from heart failure
The risks are clear. Living alone and being socially isolated can harm your health. But there are ways to cope with holiday loneliness. The following tools can help seniors maintain healthy connections and avoid the negative thoughts and impacts of isolation.
Elderly Care: Companion Care
Sometimes, it’s important to just have someone to talk to. One popular service that a home care agency can offer is companionship care. Through activities and other social interactions, a home care aide will provide meaningful companionship that seniors need.
The benefits of companion care are immediate and can be extremely valuable. Simply having regular conversations can alleviate feelings of loneliness, and regular activities like playing games and puzzles can help improve cognitive function.
Elderly Care: Take Matters into Your Own Hands
The National Institute on Aging suggests a few ways to make and maintain connections including the following:
- Volunteer: Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community while improving your own outlook on life. Helping others can bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose, especially for seniors who may feel disconnected. Whether it’s reading to children at a library, or knitting blankets for a cause, volunteering offers countless opportunities. It’s a great way to meet new people and forge meaningful relationships while making a difference.
- Plan a new holiday celebration: Get together, either in person or virtually, with old friends or new ones. Exchange gifts or just share stories. Celebrating with people you know, but don’t normally celebrate with can be a gift unto itself.
- Adopt a pet: Pets bring unconditional love and companionship, making them wonderful additions to a senior’s life. Adopting a dog, cat, or even a smaller pet can help reduce feelings of loneliness and provide a sense of responsibility. Walking a dog, for instance, encourages physical activity and social interaction with neighbors. Pet ownership has also been shown to reduce stress and improve overall mental health, creating a nurturing bond that greatly enhances daily life.
- Join a book club: Participating in a book club provides a great opportunity to connect with others with similar interests. It’s a fantastic way to foster conversations, build friendships, and enjoy engaging discussions.
- Stay in touch: Many seniors don’t want to be a bother to their families and don’t reach out to communicate as often as they’d like. But reaching out is almost always the right call. In fact, many times, families also don’t want to intrude on their parents’ lives or be a bother to them. If your family is busy, they can call back!
Elderly Care: 3 Helpful Resources
The National Council on Aging has developed a program that can help seniors in at-home care thrive in many aspects of their lives, including avoiding loneliness and social isolation. The self-directed version of the program allows seniors to work at their own pace in a number of areas including finance, well-being, and social connection.
The AARP Foundation has developed tools to allow seniors who live at home to determine if they are socially isolated and help them overcome loneliness. The program starts with an assessment of the level of risk of isolation and then directs users to tools that can help them overcome isolation.
A senior living at home who is experiencing loneliness and social isolation needs resources, and the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness can help. A not-for-profit supported by some of the largest healthcare and transportation organizations in the country, the Coalition aims to highlight research about loneliness and social isolation.
Caring for the Elderly at Home with Home Care Powered by AUAF
This holiday season feels more stressful as families face lingering pandemic effects, economic challenges, and caregiving pressures.
At Home Care Powered by AUAF, we understand these challenges and are here to provide support. Whether you’re looking to get paid to care for your elderly relative or need the assistance of a professional home care aide to ensure your loved one’s comfort and safety, we offer personalized solutions to meet your family’s unique needs.
Let us help take some of the weight off your shoulders. Call us today at 773-274-9262 or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you and your loved ones this holiday season.
