Social wellness is vitally important for older adults and home care services can help.
Living through more than a year of a worldwide pandemic taught us to never take for granted the small but extremely significant things in life: shared laughter, hugging loved ones, a lunch date in a favorite café. We found out firsthand just how much socialization is to be valued, and just how empty and lost we can feel when it is taken away.
July is Social Wellness Month, and now that vaccinations are reducing our need to isolate, it is the ideal chance to make sure older adults have plenty of opportunities for socialization.
Advantages of Social Wellness
Research has identified that people who stay social:
- Live longer
- Respond better to stress
- Have healthier cardiovascular and endocrine systems
- Have stronger immunity
- And more
On the other hand, men and women who live a more isolated and secluded lifestyle are at higher risk for significant health issues – comparable to the dangers linked to obesity, tobacco use, and high blood pressure.
How to Improve Social Wellness in Seniors
If an older adult you love is now accustomed to solitary living and is unsure how to enhance socialization, the following tips will help:
- Think of current hobbies, or those the older adult may wish to learn more about. Perhaps there’s always been a desire to learn to play an instrument, speak Spanish, or plant a flower garden. Whatever the interest, look into local opportunities for a course or group for the older adult to join to learn a brand new skill or share an existing one with other people.
- Gain the dual benefit of physical fitness through joining a gym or exercise group. There are a variety of fitness classes specifically aimed at older adults, allowing for a low-impact workout together with the chance to form friendships. Just seek the advice of the doctor for approval first.
- Find an organization or cause that the older adult is especially passionate about, and look to see what their volunteer needs are. Older adults can find meaning and purpose along with socialization opportunities while assisting individuals in need.
How Abby Senior Care Can Help
An in-home caregiving companion, like those on the Abby Senior Care team, is a simple and easy solution to enhance senior socialization. Our caregivers are fully trained, experienced, background-checked, and available for as much or as little time as a senior would like for fun activities, conversations, outings, and so much more. We are able to provide transportation and accompaniment to social activities for seniors, or just visit with an older adult in the home on a regular basis.
Contact our award-winning team, providing senior care in Greenwood Village and other nearby areas, and learn how we can help an older adult in your life stay social, healthy and well. We offer a complimentary consultation at your convenience, so call us today at 303-699-8840.