Loneliness can sneak up on your aging family member. People move away, her friends may become bedridden, and so many other issues can contribute. The really important thing to remember is that your senior doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life feeling lonely and alone. There are answers, even if you’re not able to be there with her.
Loneliness Affects All Areas of Health
Chronic loneliness affects your senior’s mental health, but also her physical health. She may feel concerns about whether she’s done anything to cause people to not want to spend time with her, which can be damaging to her self-esteem. Loneliness can lead to issues with depression and even long-term health issues, like higher blood pressure.
Spotting Signs of Loneliness
Some aging adults will tell you that they’re lonely. Others may not want to be a burden or feel as if they’re intruding on your life. But there may still be signs that can look very similar to the signs of depression. Your elderly family member may not be sleeping well or she might seem to have little or no motivation. She could also have memory issues.
Keep in Contact with Your Senior and Visit When You Can
Setting up a regular communication schedule can be key to helping your elderly family member, especially if you don’t live near her. Touching base with her gives you a chance to assess what’s happening and to find solutions along with your senior. If it’s possible, find a way to safely visit her as often as you can.
Hire Elderly Care Providers
On a daily basis, it can help your senior to have elderly care providers stopping in to check on her. They offer companionship and they can be instrumental in helping you to get an accurate view of how your senior is doing. They can also step in and handle tasks for your senior that is becoming more difficult for her to do on her own.
Talk with Her Doctor
It’s also a good idea to talk to your senior’s doctor about how she’s feeling and what’s happening with her. There can sometimes be underlying health issues that contribute to loneliness and to other mental health issues your senior might be facing. Getting a handle on those is crucial.
With a plan in place, your elderly family member and you can start to see real results for her.
