Saving Seniors from Social Isolation

In today’s fast-paced ever-younger culture it is often hard for seniors to keep up. Unless they have regular contact with young people, just keeping up with the latest slang can be confusing. No wonder many seniors hide in their houses and avoid socializing.

One hundred years ago families lived together. It was common for two or three generations to share the same house. There were practical advantages since grandparents could help with children and other daily chores. There were also emotional advantages. Seniors still felt vital and needed, and the children received a sense of family that came from knowing their grandparents. Emotionally and mentally these families were healthier than many are today. Families are all busy doing their own thing and grandparents are often far away in another city, or possibly another state.

It is often after one spouse dies that seniors start to feel alone. If they have no family close by, they can start to withdraw and isolate themselves from others. Baltimore Home Care suggests some things we can do to help the seniors we know to stay active.

Invite Seniors to the Church

We can invite them to church. Having someone to go with will help ease someone into a new social setting. It is the same with other social types of organizations. Sometimes seniors are reluctant to go out because of health or mobility issues. Knowing they have someone along they can count on will ease their fears.

Take them to class. Taking a senior to a class will help them learn new things, meet new people, and feel more independent. Helping them learn more about today’s technology will help them stay in touch with family and friends that are now spread around the country. Many libraries have free classes and computer labs to use for free. Being able to utilize the internet to stay in touch will help seniors feel less isolated.

Drop a Visit

Often just dropping by for a visit will be enough. Knowing that the company is coming will give a senior the encouragement to get up and do things. A once-perfect housekeeper will sometimes let things slide if they feel no one cares anymore. Letting depression take over is dangerous for anyone. Letting clutter pile up is also dangerous for everyone’s health. A person who knows there is someone who will visit will get up and work around their house. The exercise will be good for their physical health and the visit will be good for their emotional health.

Families once stayed together in the same house. Today it’s normal for people to live alone, but we shouldn’t be cut off from society. We can build a new kind of family by inviting people from other generations. The benefits of this new family will help everyone.