One of the biggest challenges that some seniors face is the lack of support of family members.
This can happen for a variety of reasons. Putting aside bad family dynamics, one of the more common reasons is that some seniors just don’t have family to depend on. This might be because they don’t have children of their own, or it might be because their family members have moved away or passed away. The reasons will vary, but the end result is the same: some seniors don’t have family members that can help them out or keep them company as they age.
There are safety hazards associated with living alone, too. For example, untreated illness or mental health issues can lead to unnecessary or treatable pain and even premature death. An injury, like a fall in the bathroom, can go undetected and leave someone hurt with no way to address it. Living with others drastically reduces the likelihood of something like this happening.
Where family is unable to come in and provide support, professional level senior care can. It’s not a perfect solution for everyone, but it can help a large number of people to get the care and attention that they deserve.
This is a good spot to explain the concept of an “elder orphan.” Elder orphans are not orphans in the traditional sense, but in the sense that they do not have a family that can help them as they age. Elder orphans are especially vulnerable as they age.
Is it possible for a senior to thrive on their own as they age? Of course it is. However, as health, disability, and cognitive issues become an issue for some seniors, aging alone can become more and more difficult. For some people with advanced needs, being alone can be downright dangerous.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that someone needs to move into a nursing home or another facility. This is where in-home care can help someone to maintain the lifestyle that they’ve become accustomed to and enjoy, but still get the help that they need to thrive as they age.
The barrier to this is that some seniors are unable or unwilling to recognize or take action when they need help. Being alone can exacerbate this barrier. While someone with a family that is closeby might be able to recognize that their older loved one is struggling to keep up with their needs, someone on their own doesn’t have that safety net. This is another example of why community is such an important component of our society.
If you’d like to learn more about how in-home care can help seniors living alone, please feel free to reach out. And if you’re not ready for a phone call quite yet, look at the resources here on our website. We have devoted our professional lives here at Paradise In-Home Care to ensuring that seniors are connected to the right kind of care for their unique set of needs. We’d love to help you or someone you are close with get connected, too.
Leave a Reply