Lonely seniors need to find ways to fill their time when they’re alone, and they also need to look for ways to spend time with other people on a regular basis. Socializing can prevent depression, and having ways to reach out for companionship empowers seniors to take control over their loneliness. These five activities are all great for making seniors feel less alone and bored.
1. Play with a Pet
There may be times when your aging loved one has to wait for someone to visit. During these times, a dog or cat can serve as a different type of companion. Pets provide unconditional love and often respond to their owners in ways that elicit spontaneous laughter, and many people even carry on conversations with their furry friends. Supply your loved one with a few new pet toys to pull out whenever he or she is lonely to add a new element of fun to playtime with the pet. Your loved one may also enjoy sharing the pet with any visitors who stop by during the week.
2. Try an Interactive Video Game
Many video games offer the option of playing with other people online in real time. Help your loved one find a video game that suits his or her interests, and encourage getting a little practice time in before going online. Being able to hear and talk to other people can make seniors feel less alone when they’re at home.
A home caregiver can be a wonderful game-playing partner for your loved one. Homecare services agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
3. Join a Choir
Choirs usually require seniors to commit to attending practice sessions and performances one or two times a week. Seniors may be able to find choirs through their preferred religious organizations or at senior centers. Joining a choir puts your loved one in regular contact with other people and offers the opportunity to make friends who share his or her interests.
4. Participate in a Book Club
Reading is a pastime seniors can enjoy by themselves, but sharing their favorite books with other people adds a social element that makes it even more enjoyable. Look for a book club in your area that welcomes seniors. Libraries and local bookstores are great places to start. Help your loved one find accommodations for any challenges he or she faces. For instance, your loved one may need a ride to the book club meetings. If your parent has diminished vision, he or she may need a caregiver to read the story out loud.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Lincoln families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
5. Plan a Weekly Crafting Date
Home caregivers are often eager to join in on seniors’ favorite hobbies. Whether your loved one enjoys crocheting or scrapbooking, you can set him or her up with a new friend who will meet with him or her regularly for crafting dates to work together on projects or simply check out what your loved one has accomplished. Your loved one will then have a reason for crafting throughout the week, since he or she will look forward to showing the projects off.
For families living in Lincoln, 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 Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.