According to some estimates, about 25 percent of those individuals over the age of 65 in the US live in some sort of isolation.
Isolation looks differently for different people. Your older loved ones (and yourself, for that matter), will likely have different social needs than other people. This is normal. Each person is unique and over the course of their lifetime, their needs are likely to change. Even though those needs will change over time, they still need to be addressed and met whenever possible.
People are not meant to live life alone, but unfortunately, that is the reality that so many seniors face. It happens for a number of reasons, but regardless of the reason, there are things that can be done to help combat it. When social needs are not routinely met, it is common for mental health problems to ensue. Poor mental health can lead to poor physical health and the deterioration of the quality of life that someone experiences. Our mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual lives are intertwined; each part has an impact on the others.
If you have an older loved one, the most important thing that you can do right now to help ensure that they have a higher quality of life is just to be a part of their life. When family is actively involved, issues are a lot more likely to be found and resolved. If someone is spending too much time alone and not caring for themselves as a result of that, being part of their life will help you to see this and help them more immediately.
That’s not possible for everyone. For example, my mom is now in her 70s and lives a couple states away from me. I see her only three or four times a year right now. I can’t physically be there to check in on her. However, I speak with her on the phone a few times a week, I have occasional contact with her friends, and I have other family close to her that I communicate with to make sure she’s doing well. It helps me to keep better tabs on her health and wellbeing, and it helps her to feel more supported.
In-home care’s secret weapon is that it provides companionship and company in addition to meeting the other needs. Other forms of senior care can help with this, too. The difference between something like in-home care and assisted living or a nursing home is that this companionship takes place in the home of the person receiving care. For some, this is absolutely the best choice when it comes to socializing. For others, it’s not always the best choice.
We recognize that in-home care isn’t always the right solution for your family’s care needs. We also know that not everyone is quite sure what the best choice is for their particular situation. That’s why we offer our free consultation session. It’s designed to answer your questions, give you more information, and get you pointed in the right direction. If you’d like to learn more about Paradise In-Home Care, please feel free to get in touch and schedule your conversation.
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