Learn how to improve social well for seniors by following a few easy tips.
Living through over a year of a worldwide pandemic taught us to never take for granted the small but incredibly important things in life: shared laughter, hugging our loved ones, a dinner date in our favorite café. We discovered firsthand how much socialization is to be valued, and just how empty and lost we can feel when it’s eliminated.
July is Social Wellness Month, and now that vaccinations are reducing our need to isolate ourselves, it is the perfect opportunity to learn how to improve social wellness for seniors and make certain they have abundant opportunities for engagement.
Advantages of Social Wellness
Studies have uncovered that those who stay social:
- Live longer
- Respond far better to stress
- Have healthier endocrine and cardiovascular systems
- Have a stronger immunity
- And much more
On the other hand, people who live a more isolated and secluded lifestyle are at heightened risk for severe health complications – comparable to the dangers linked to obesity, cigarette smoking, and hypertension.
Simple Tips to Improve Social Wellness in Seniors
If an older adult you love has become accustomed to solitary living and is unsure how to enhance socialization, the following tips can help:
- Think of current hobbies, or those your senior loved one may wish to discover more about. Perhaps there’s always been a dream to learn to play the piano, speak a new language, or plant a vegetable garden. No matter what the interest, look into local opportunities for a class or group for the older adult to join to learn a new skill or share an existing one with others.
- Gain the dual benefit of physical fitness through joining a gym or exercise group. There are a variety of exercise classes specifically aimed at older adults, allowing for a low-impact workout in addition to the chance to form friendships. Just speak with the doctor for approval first.
- Find an organization or cause that the senior is particularly passionate about, and look to see what their volunteer needs are. Seniors can find meaning and purpose along with socialization opportunities while assisting those in need.
How Compassionate Nursing Services Can Help
An in-home caregiving companion, like those at Compassionate Nursing Services, is a simple and easy method to improve 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 conversations, fun activities, outings, and much more. We are available to provide transportation and accompaniment to social activities for seniors, or simply visit with the senior at home on a regular basis.
Contact our experts in senior care in Oakville, MO and the surrounding communities to learn how we can help a senior in your life stay healthy, social and well. We provide a complimentary in-home consultation at your convenience, so give us a call today at 314-432-4312. For a full list of all of the communities where we provide our award-winning care, please visit our Service Area page.