Reduce social isolation in seniors with the help of in-home care services.
Isolation. Fear. Loneliness. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on us all in one way or another, but for older adults especially, the seclusion necessary to ensure safety from COVID-19 has had detrimental effects on mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. At-Home Senior Care, a leading provider of home care for aging parents in Ames and the surrounding areas, is here to reduce social isolation in seniors and help maintain the social connections that are so crucial to their health with the following steps.
- Safe socialization. While we’ve become accustomed to the phrase “social distancing,” it’s not the socialization itself we need to distance ourselves from, of course, but merely the physical proximity to others. Staying socially connected throughout the pandemic may not look exactly like we’d like without physical touch, but there are many ways an in-home caregiver can help encourage seniors to still be close to people they love. Whether an older adult favors old-fashioned letter writing and phone calls, or is open to making use of social media or technology for virtual face-to-face conversations, we are able to help older adults reach out to others often.
- Making the most of time with trusted companions. For seniors who live alone, spending quality time with an in-home caregiver can help tremendously with alleviating feelings of isolation. We make the time to play board games, have conversations, bake, do arts and crafts together, perhaps even take an online course together to learn a new language or other skill.
- Limiting exposure to the news. While it is necessary to stay up to date on the latest information on the pandemic along with other news items of interest, an excessive amount of time spent reading or watching the news is bound to raise a senior’s stress and anxiety levels. Our caregivers encourage older adults to create reasonable goals associated with news intake: perhaps one 30-minute news program in the morning, and another at dinnertime, and fill the rest of the day with positive TV shows, reading materials, and other engaging activities.
- Practicing positivity. Contemplating all the “what ifs” can be frightening. We help older adults shift their thinking to a far more positive mindset and internal dialogue through gratitude, prayer, mindfulness, guided meditation or yoga, and even through encouraging seniors to spend time talking with a particular family member or friend who is constantly looking on the bright side.
- Enjoying nature. Being outside in and of itself diminishes stress and anxiety; our caregivers safely help seniors enjoy walks and other forms of physical exercise for an added calming effect. We are also careful to strictly follow safety guidelines – staying apart from others, wearing a face covering, etc.
- Helping somebody else. There’s no better elixir to feeling down than helping someone else up. Even when remaining at home, there are plenty of ways seniors make a difference in the lives of others. Together, we can brainstorm ideas related to an older adult’s particular passions and interests; for example, writing and mailing cards of encouragement to nursing home residents, assembling care packages for the disabled or homeless veterans, making baby blankets for an area organization that helps single mothers, or baking homemade dog treats to send to the animal shelter.
Let At-Home Care Company’s professional, knowledgeable caregivers help the seniors you love overcome loneliness and isolation. We adhere to all recommended procedures to safely care for seniors in the home, and love bringing smiles to the faces of those we serve. Contact us online or give us a call at 515-292-2650 to learn more about our trusted home care for aging parents in Ames and the surrounding communities.