In a world with so many kind-hearted individuals, there’s no need to for anyone to be lonely.
Keep your senior happy and positive with these 10 tips on senior loneliness:
Schedule regular family night.
A huge factor that can contribute to a senior’s loneliness (or anyone’s loneliness for that matter), is not knowing when they will have company next. That uncertainty makes them anxious. Avoid the anxiousness and schedule a set family night so your senior has something to look forward to.
Call your senior regularly.
Try to call your senior as often as you can. They don’t need to be 1-hour phone calls, but five minutes here and there on a regular basis can really help your senior feel more connected to the outside world.
Speak positively.
When you do talk with your senior, make sure to keep your tone positive. Use encouraging words and try to speak about happy topics. If you need to talk about something serious or disheartening, try to do so in a relaxed manner and face to face, rather than over the phone.
Make your senior a schedule.
When people get lonely, it makes getting out of bed and moving through the day that much harder. Give your senior a little push by mapping out a schedule or to-do list. Nothing too intense, but just something to give your senior a little structure.
Keep your senior busy.
Encourage your senior to pursue enjoyable hobbies or explore new activities. Loneliness tends to creep into the mind when the body is idle. So, keep your senior active.
Check up on your senior’s sleep.
Feelings of loneliness and depression can often stem from lack of sleep. Make sure your senior is getting to bed at a decent hour and getting a good amount of sleep. Also, encourage your senior to wake up at the same time every day. This small habit has been known to make a big impact in emotional health.
Make sure your senior is getting enough exercise.
Lack of exercise is another big contributor to loneliness and depression. Push your senior to go for leisurely walks outside where he or she can reap the benefits of the sun. If that’s too much, have your senior tidy the house. It’s a little-known secret that house cleaning is actually a great cardio workout.
Adopt a pet.
Animals can’t replace humans. But, they can make seniors a little happier. If your senior is constantly feeling lonely, talk to him or her about adopting a pet. The process of choosing an animal will be something fun to look forward to, and having the pet will get your senior up and moving.
Register your senior for community activities.
You can’t be your senior’s only form of human contact. Find volunteer work or group activities that your senior can attend. This will give your senior another resource to meet new people and make some new friends.
Sign up for at-home care.
Seniors often get lonely when they are placed in nursing homes or other senior care facilities. It’s hard to stay positive when you’re away from your family, in an unfamiliar place, and with unfamiliar people. Keep your senior close and sign up for at-home care. The results speak for themselves.
