Loneliness can happen to anyone, but the risk of feeling alone on a regular basis increases for seniors. Your aging loved one may experience a new sense of loneliness after losing a spouse or best friend, or your parent may be alone a lot at home if he or she has retired from work. These five activities can help seniors manage their loneliness.
Go for a Walk in the Park
Walking provides almost instant benefits for a senior’s mood, and a little exercise always gets someone feeling better. Walking in local parks puts seniors in closer contact with people who live and play in their communities. Your loved one can simply watch young families enjoy their day as he or she walks. It’s also possible your loved one will run into other walkers. Even a nod hello can make someone feel less lonely.
If your loved one needs help with getting out of the house due to issues such as limited mobility, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Senior care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Start a Knitting Circle or Hobby Group
Seniors don’t have to sit around and wait for people to reach out to them. Instead, they can be proactive by creating their own social groups. Knitting and sewing circles are popular options for seniors, and book clubs are as well. Older adults should remember to keep attendance expectations flexible for their hobby groups. However, they’ll still enjoy social benefits even if only one or two people show up.
Take a Walk Down Memory Lane
There may be times when seniors aren’t able to immediately find someone to help with their loneliness. When this happens, it can be beneficial to spend some time reminiscing. Looking at old photo albums and family videos reminds seniors they’re loved by many people. Your loved one can also use this activity as inspiration for sending a heartfelt letter or email that’s likely to elicit a response, and reminiscing is also good for boosting brain health.
Enroll in a New Type of Class
Lonely seniors sometimes get stuck in a rut, and taking a new class can shake things up. Seniors can take classes they might not have ever thought to try before. Tap dancing, coding, and foreign language classes are just a few ideas for classes your loved one can take. Getting involved with new areas of interest exposes older adults to different types of people who may become good friends. They’ll also be able to work on their homework and practice lessons during times they’re at home alone.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Columbus families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Plan Regular Lunch Dates with a Friend
People often get in too much of a hurry to remember to invite their aging loved ones over for a meal. However, seniors can establish regular lunch dates that become part of their normal routines. Whether they do this once a week or every day, having someone they can rely on to talk to gives seniors something to look forward to when they feel lonely. For families living in Columbus, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call today.
