A Barna study states that more than a third of people that are millennial aged state that they don’t have friends outside of their own age category. This is a larger number than other generation experiences, leading to a variety of issues that could potentially come along with this generational isolation.
The biggest issue when it comes to generational isolation is that connections disappear as people age. Someone who doesn’t have as many social connections is far more likely to be on their own as they age. This can have a profound impact on both physical and mental health. People are meant to be together. There’s a reason why the family is one of the most important social units in our society.
The millennial generation is broadly defined as those born between the years of the mid to early 80s, all the way to the year 2000. This aged group today ranges between the ages of 23 to 40. These folks are largely out of college and in the workforce. Many of them have families of their own and are diligently saving up for their retirement years. They know that senior care might be necessary and that it’s smart to start saving now. But they don’t all have the experience to know what this looks like in practice.
This isolation of sorts has contributed to what some believe is a skewed sense of reality. Because there are fewer close relationships with older folks in this age group, some people in this age group don’t have the opportunity to see firsthand how needs and goals can change as someone ages. They don’t walk through the same pitfalls of aging and care with someone that they might if they had a friend who was older than them going through it first.
It doesn’t need to be like this. Families have their own internal social structure. Children, parents, and grandparents all grow together and form natural, loving bonds. These connections are important for families. Even if you have family members that live hundreds or thousands of miles away, those connections between your family members are important. I know that each family’s dynamics are different, but when families come together to help out and identify areas where they can help improve each other’s lives, senior care can be far better than what it currently is. When families work together, the whole system is naturally improved.
You’re the expert of your family. Each family has different dynamics, and you’re the expert of your own situation. You have a better idea of what will work and what won’t than anyone else does, even the professionals. But a professional care service has access to information and ideas that maybe you’ve never heard of or are unaware of how they might help you.
We would be happy to help if you’re looking for more information about senior care. One of our in-home care professionals would be happy to talk through what we do here and how it might benefit your family. Give us a call today to get started.
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