As the pandemic rages on and the weather gets cooler, that can mean our senior loved ones find themselves facing a dark, lonely winter. Loneliness can affect anyone of any age; however, it especially impacts those over 70. Loneliness creeps in both for those residing in nursing homes and those residing independently at home.
Psychologists have long studied loneliness in the elderly and have found that it is important for them to feel useful and to feel heard. Many nursing home facilities come up with creative ways for residents to feel useful such as allowing them to assist in decorating, planning activities, or even designating ambulatory seniors to push wheelchairs for other residents. Helping a senior that lives independently at home feel useful may require a proactive approach. Prior to going into the colder weather, it may be helpful to look into certain organizations that will allow the senior to give their time and energy in a way that is safe yet purposeful.
As for feeling heard, seniors, regardless of where they live, benefit from consistent communication from loved ones. They should be able to share their stories while family members actively listen and enjoy the conversation. Maintaining fulfilling personal relationships improves not only their mental and emotional health but also their physical health as well. Unchecked loneliness has the potential to accelerate an elder’s need for more advanced long-term care.
In addition to helping them feel purposeful and actively listening and observing your senior loved ones, you can also develop a strategy for minimizing isolation. This may be done by helping to introduce the senior to others that live nearby, helping them find community activities that fit their interests, or signing them up for certain volunteer opportunities where someone will visit them on a regular basis.
It does not have to be a major effort to help renew the senior’s interest in people and activities. It can be something simple such as sending a card, sharing a meal, or a quick phone call. Those efforts will go a long way in making a senior feel loved and connected to the rest of the family.
At Stouffer Legal we care about our seniors, and we know it will take a concerted effort in the winter of 2020-2021 to ensure that we prevent loneliness to the extent possible. For more information on our Elder Law services please visit our website at stoufferlegal.com to discover our resources.
