Spending time laughing and catching up with friends increases endorphins in the body, which are your happiness hormone. Isolation is linked to depression, and can be avoided with some planning between you and your loved one. Visiting them is crucial, but it helps for them to make friends their age and socialize with their peers as well.
In addition to happiness, seniors also achieve a sense of independence through socializing with other seniors. It improves their confidence in doing things on their own, and helps them feel less isolated in the sense that they can meet others who might be experiencing similar struggles and successes.
Seniors who socialize are generally healthier. They have decreased incidents of dementia, live longer and experience less falls or other accidental injuries.
Address What Might Be Stopping Them
Getting to the root of why your loved one is experiencing isolation will help you create an action plan with them to meet new people. One primary cause might be lack of transportation. If your senior cannot drive themselves, can you offer to drive them to meet ups? Or can you help them learn to navigate public transportation to get to their favorite spots in town? If you lack time to drive your loved one to and from events, Aroga caregivers can make sure they get to their meet ups safely and on time.
Hearing and vision problems might impede your loved one from initiating social interactions. Encourage them to get a hearing and vision test done. A hearing aid or new glasses might boost their confidence and help them feel more comfortable interacting with peers.
If your loved one suffers from incontinence or another heath condition they may be embarrassed about, they may feel scared to navigate the social scene and experience an accident. If they are managing their condition just fine, a pep talk or accompanying them on a test run on the town is probably all they need. If they are struggling to manage symptoms, our caregivers can help them gain a sense of control over their symptoms to prepare for social outings, or they can be on call during their meet ups in case of an incident.
Find Activities in Your Area
Once everyone is comfortable, sit down with your loved one and search for senior clubs and events in your area. Novant Health and other medical centers typically host socials and educational events for seniors. Finding a group that meets regularly will help your loved one develop a routine. You can also help them plan an event or dinner in their home for new friends.
We would be happy to help your loved one get out and meet new people! For more information about how Aroga can help, please visit our services page. Additionally, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates on events in the greater Charlotte area.