Every person’s life is unique, and comes with its own sets of triumphs, challenges, goals and setbacks. Within these billions of lives, there are many common experiences—both positive and negative—which can become the foundation for long lasting, meaningful relationships. But what happens when you no longer have those relationships? This kind of loneliness is an experience shared by many seniors, perhaps including those you care for. So, how can you help the older people in your life, both in terms of their present struggles and their futures? It is important to recognize the signs of a senior who is in need of extra help, and to act quickly in order to promote an enriching lifestyle.
The causes of loneliness, both obvious and subtle
Loneliness can be very apparent, or creep up on someone subtly. For cases such as the death of a spouse, where someone suddenly has to transition to living alone, loneliness can be a clear side effect. In other cases, such as a fitness class being moved to a less convenient location, or simply the deterioration of health or mobility, loneliness can be a gradual process. This goes hand in hand with the fact that many elders will be too proud to admit their struggles; often, they will downplay any concerns so as not to worry their loved ones, or because they are reluctant to accept help. Talking to family can be especially helpful in this regard, as they may notice signs that you otherwise wouldn’t. It is important to keep a keen eye out for possible sources of loneliness and act quickly if you or family members do notice any, as this can have a profound impact on their overall wellbeing.
Effects of loneliness, and how to help
Loneliness, or a general lack of social interaction, can make the onset of age-related issues much faster. Examples of some warning signs include poor hygiene, financial issues, confusion, and mood changes. Seniors are also much more prone to injuries, which can go unnoticed if a person is more socially isolated. By setting up activities for the elders who you care for, as well as coming up with and maintaining systems to support them, you can help to lower the chances of any negative experiences or incidents going unnoticed. Here are four ways that you can help to combat senior loneliness.
Help set up regular social activities
Having repeating scheduled activities can be very helpful for a number of reasons. Regularly meeting with the same people can create strong friendships, as people naturally become closer to those they see more often. Scheduled events can also create a sense of stability through having a set routine, and can lessen the stress of constantly having to arrange plans.
Most cities have a variety of health and wellness programs aimed specifically at seniors. These include classes for things such as aquatic fitness, seated exercises, and flexibility training, and usually offer a wide range of levels to suit their personal mobility and agility. Some programs may include different variations for exercises, allowing seniors to work their way up to trying tougher moves in a self-led, gradual way. There are also mindfulness and meditation classes, which can be especially helpful for seniors dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, as well as confusion or cognitive decline. Both exercise and mindfulness classes can be beneficial for chronic pain, too. Helping your seniors to enroll in these classes, and accompanying them the first few times to help them get into the routine, can be an excellent way to build trust and connection. And, as they become more comfortable with the classes, this can open up opportunities for them to meet and connect with new people.
Activities don’t have to just be exercise oriented either! An excellent option for those with lower mobility is to join a local library’s book club. According to WebMD, reading engages the mind and can reduce stress in a meditative way. By combining this with conversations with other people, book clubs offer a chance to turn the simple act of reading into a vibrant and engaging form of socializing.
Another fantastic way to connect with others is through volunteering. Not only does it keep seniors socially active, it can also be deeply fulfilling, as it allows them to give back to their communities. By searching online, or looking at bulletin boards at local community centers, caregivers can help their seniors find a sense of purpose and maintain social connections. Some popular options include volunteering with a local library, or with a community garden. Seniors can also put skills gained throughout their lives to work with things like event planning.
Pick up or maintain hobbies
Pick up or maintain hobbiesThe importance of keeping passions alive cannot be understated! Through hobbies—both old and new—seniors can give back to their communities, express themselves creatively, and continue to pursue their interests. Here are a few suggestions for senior friendly hobbies, and how to turn solitary activities into social ones.
First up: gardening. Elders will often turn to gardening as a way to fill their time, caring for their backyard gardens or keeping beautiful potted plants. According to an article by PubMed Central (NCBI), multiple studies have shown that exposure to plants (including indoor houseplants and outdoor gardening) can reduce pain, improve mood, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. In one study, exposure to green space was even linked with increased longevity. In fact, indoor gardening has been used as a treatment for patients struggling with their mental health, with positive results. While gardening can often be a solitary activity, joining a community garden is a great way to use a passion for gardening to meet new people. Many gardens also encourage the sharing of food for those in need, which can provide a satisfying sense of fulfillment.
For those looking for creative expression, art classes and writing clubs are a great option. If a senior once enjoyed making art, but can no longer participate due to arthritis or carpal tunnel, some organizations offer “gentle art” programs which are designed to be more accessible. These can include hand knitting with soft and large yarn, finger painting, collage and mosaic making, and clay modeling. These classes give seniors the freedom to express themselves creatively, and can help to maintain hand and finger dexterity through their light movements. And, as always, these classes can provide new chances to connect with others. Similarly, if a senior has a passion for writing, there are several options that promote socializing, including writing classes, competitions, and clubs. In particular, the accessibility of writing clubs can make them an excellent option—many meet online or over the phone, allowing seniors with mobility issues to continue to share their work with others and hear from fellow writers.
Above all, the important thing is to listen to your seniors and help them choose hobbies that are right for them. Their interest in the activities will greatly influence how likely they are to stick with them; by finding a few, or even just one that fits their lifestyle and passions, you can provide them with the tools needed to make a positive change in their lives.
Family Time
An especially important method of combatting loneliness is to increase the amount of family time that an elder gets. This is not always easy; scheduling can be tough, and if family lives out of town things can get complicated. Nevertheless, there are a few strategies that can be used to make this easier.
The first strategy is one already mentioned above: creating a regular schedule for activities. By dedicating a specific day each week to seeing elderly relatives, families can remove some of the stress of scheduling. This also has the added benefit of providing a sense of stability and security for the elders, and can give them something to look forward to each week. Try suggesting that families dedicate a certain day of the week to visiting, calling, or doing an activity with their elderly loved ones, and encourage them to try out new things together every once in a while.
This can also be combined with scheduled activities and hobbies from methods 1 and 2. If family members share hobbies or interests with your seniors, you can encourage them to pursue those interests together. Older relatives may enjoy doing exercise classes with seniors, while younger relatives may find shared art classes to be a fun bonding activity. These classes or activities allow not just the seniors, but also their loved ones to try out and experience new things, which can create lasting memories.
Depending on factors such as time zones and work schedules, this may not always be possible. Try your best to work out periods of time—even as short as half an hour—where family members are able to call their older relatives or go on walks with them. The importance is not on the length of time spent together, but rather on the frequency and reliability of these interactions. Even just one 30 minute phone call per week can make a world of a difference to someone living alone.
Connect with others online
The final method for today is to connect with others—family, friends, and other like-minded people—via the internet. There exist many forums and organizations dedicated to helping people connect online, and still others that provide online counseling services. The trick here is to help seniors become comfortable with using the internet, and to make sure that they understand the possible risks that may come with it.
For those with disabilities, limited mobility, or those who live farther away from in-person activities, the internet provides virtually unlimited opportunities for social connection. From online bingo tournaments, to live streamed yoga and Tai Chi practices, there is something for everyone. Museums and art galleries in particular often have services targeted at seniors, such as virtual art talks and online art galleries.
Finding virtual activities is a lot like finding in person activities, with an emphasis on finding something that fits your senior’s needs. The first step is to learn what your they are interested in (a process similar to the hobbies in method 2). From there, you will likely want to do a bit of independent research in order to find high quality programs for your seniors to join, taking care to look into each option thoroughly—scammers will often try to target the elderly, so it is especially important to read all of the fine print, and some reviews as well. After exploring and coming up with a few options, it will be time to decide which is the best fit!
The internet can also provide access to online psychologists and virtual counseling. Some are designed specifically for the elderly, and can help with issues such as chronic pain and cognitive decline, as well as anxiety and depression. For those that struggle with mental health issues, or need an extra bit of support, these online senior therapy services can be life changing. Just like with virtual activities, proper research should be done before enrolling seniors with these kinds of services.
Supporting your seniors’ use of the internet can be difficult, as most of them have less experience with today’s technologies than you do. Be patient, go slowly, and try to think of ways to make it easier for them. Here are 5 tips:
- Emphasize internet safety above anything else. As mentioned above, seniors are unfortunately often the targets of scams. Make sure that they understand what is suspicious (including any emails or phone calls which seem to be from well-known companies such as Netflix, Google, etc), and know to show a trusted family member instead of replying to them.
- If you are concerned for their safety, consider involving another family member to check their emails and delete any possible scams.
- Write down frequently taken steps, such as how to access emails, virtual clubs, and classes. Seniors who may struggle with memory loss or confusion can find these especially helpful.
- Using the “bookmark” feature on web browsers can be helpful for frequently visited pages, like virtual club pages. This will make them much easier to open.
- Encourage them to explore on their own to get familiar with the technology. Playing virtual games such as solitaire, scrabble, and crossword puzzles can raise their self confidence in terms of technology.
Words of encouragement
Caregiving can be an incredibly tiring, stressful profession. While caring for your seniors is important, it is also just as important to take care of yourselves, too. Taking time to do some self care, which can range from a spa-night, to reading on your couch, to hanging out with friends, is an important and necessary part of caregiving. Thank you for doing what you do, and please remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Final Words
Through this article, we have discussed 4 main methods to combat loneliness in seniors: scheduling regular activities, picking up and maintaining hobbies, increasing family time, and encouraging the use of technology to connect with others. Not all of these will work for every senior. However, the important thing is to continue to put in the time and effort to hopefully find something that is right for your seniors. By communicating with them, working to find activities that are suited to their needs and lifestyles, and encouraging their family members to get involved, you can make a significant positive impact and help your seniors to live with the best quality of life for as long as possible
