These tips are perfect for helping older adults improve social wellness.
Living through more than a year of a global pandemic taught us to never take for granted the small but exceptionally essential things in life: shared laughter, hugging our friends and family, a dinner date in our favorite café. We discovered firsthand how much socialization is to be valued, and how lost and empty 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 an excellent chance to ensure that older adults have adequate opportunities for socialization and evaluate what we can do to improve social wellness.
Benefits of Social Wellness
Research has identified that people who stay social:
- Live longer
- Respond much better to stress
- Have healthier endocrine and cardiovascular systems
- Have a more robust immune response
- And more
Conversely, individuals who live a more secluded and isolated lifestyle are at heightened risk for severe health complications – comparable to the dangers connected to obesity, smoking cigarettes, and high blood pressure.
Simple Tips to Improve Social Wellness in Seniors
If an older adult you love is now accustomed to solitary living and is unsure how to increase socialization, these tips can help:
- Think of current hobbies, or those the senior may wish to learn more about. Maybe there has always been a wish to learn to play an instrument, speak German, or plant a flower garden. Whatever the interest, investigate local opportunities for a course or group for the senior to join to learn a new skill or share an existing one with other people.
- Gain the dual advantage of health and fitness through joining a gym or exercise group. There are a variety of exercise classes specifically designed for older adults, allowing for a low-impact workout together with the opportunity to form friendships. Just seek advice from a doctor for approval first.
- Find an organization or cause that your loved one is particularly passionate about, and check to find out what their volunteer needs are. Seniors can find meaning and purpose along with socialization opportunities while helping those in need.
How At-Home Care Company Can Help
An in-home caregiving companion, like those on the At-Home Care Company team, is a quick and easy strategy to boost senior socialization. Our caregivers are fully trained, experienced, background-checked, and available for as much or as little time as a loved one would like for conversations, fun activities, outings, and so much more. We can provide transportation and accompaniment to social activities for seniors, or just visit with the senior at home on a regular basis.
Contact us to learn how we can help a senior loved one in your life stay healthy, social and well with professional elder care in Des Moines, IA and the surrounding areas. We offer a complimentary in-home consultation at your convenience, so call us today at 515-292-2650. For information about all of the communities where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.