VWB Blog Sometimes, there’s no substitute for a warm conversation or a helping hand. There are many seniors who feel lonely or alienated, and one can be at risk of health complications if such issues aren’t dealt with.
Our world tends to get more hectic by the day, and we have enough time to spend with our immediate families. Needless to say, we often tend to forget that there’s another demographic in our society that merits our attention as much – the elderly.
This article aims to shed light on how we can help lonely seniors. Read on to find out more!
Reach Out
Reach out in a sincere manner and take the time to get to know them. Ask them how they are doing, what their interests are, and what they would like to do. Find out what activities for seniors they like to do, and offer to do them together.
Offer to go for a walk, have coffee, or a meal together. Show them respect, listen to what they have to say, and let them know that you care. Your presence is often healing and comforting to those who are lonely and will help them to feel alone.
Encourage Activities
One of the easiest and safest ways to help lonely seniors is to encourage them to engage in physical activities, social interactions, and intellectual stimulation. A few activities that can help include joining a senior center, taking exercise classes, participating in a friendly game of bingo or cards, learning a new language, enrolling in a class on computers and technology, or joining a book club.
Connecting with other seniors in a safe and secure setting can help provide them with a sense of purpose, connection, and friendship.
Attend Events
Having a community of fellow senior citizens not only helps to make the elderly feel more included but also provides them with a social outlet where they can develop meaningful relationships.
Getting out of the house and meeting new people can be beneficial for cognitive health. Participating in events can provide lonely seniors with a sense of purpose and belonging that could be missing from their lives.
Going Shopping
Accompanying a senior to the grocery store, pharmacy, the mall, or to get a special treat can allow you to share valuable conversations, listen, and provide comfort.
Furthermore, shopping can offer a valuable opportunity to distract loneliness in seniors, allowing them to focus on something different and providing relaxation.
Volunteer
One of the ways to help lonely seniors is to volunteer. Elderly individuals, who are isolated from friends and family, are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation within their nursing homes.
A volunteer could help fill this important gap in the lives of the elderly by providing companionship to those who need it. Additionally, these give volunteers the opportunity to observe potential nursing home abuse warning signs, such as sudden changes in behavior, social withdrawal, fear of certain employees, and physical evidence of abuse.
Follow These Ways to Help Lonely Seniors
Seniors can be a valuable asset to our community, and it’s important to do whatever we can to ensure they stay healthy and happy. By following the five tips mentioned in this article, we can all make a lasting impact on the lives of lonely seniors.
Let’s all do our part in connecting with our elders and brightening their day – get involved today!
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