5 Tips to Help Beat Your Aging Parent’s Loneliness
By Emma Jones
Approximately 11 million seniors live alone. Life events like the death of a spouse, siblings and close friends can lead to depression. It is easy for your parent to engage in negative thoughts concerning their own health issues, loss of independence, limited income and a feeling they are a burden on family members. A feeling of isolation can even have detrimental effects on health.
There are ways to help your aging parent beat loneliness. 5 suggestions are listed below:
1. Keep your parent mobile
Providing your parent continues to drive, make sure they have a reliable vehicle that gets good mileage. Also make sure that his or her vehicle is one they are comfortable driving; seats adjust for height, etc. and that it is being properly maintained. Even if your parent rarely goes beyond the local post office, the ability to keep driving is a freedom none of us want to give up.
2. Encourage your parent participate in out of town functions
Your parent is at risk for depression without things to look forward to. Encourage your parent to attend out of town functions; a wedding in Iowa, babysitting great grand children in Michigan, a trip to an out of town mall with two of her sisters or something similar when these
3. Encourage your parent to join a club or organization
If they are able. Church could be considered such a group, providing your parent is well enough to go out. Church, it turns out, is a really, really good thing for parents. Especially a parent that has lost his or her spouse. Prayer allows your parent to acknowledge deceased loved ones. Church members that know your parent are there to provide support outside of the family. If your parent knows those people, he or she can have conversations there that have absolutely nothing to do with our family. Volunteering is another option. If your parent is not able to do these things, you could schedule a volunteer to make regular visits to your loved one.
4. Extend invitations to your parent
Invite your parent to your homes for dinner or movie night, if possible. Realizing younger people with jobs and children have a hectic schedule, this could be as infrequent as once a month. By doing this your parent will know his or her company is desired. Ask questions about his or her childhood, first job, etc. Your parent may even tell you a story you haven’t heard. Being in your home is also a change of venue and that’s a good thing, too.
5. Take your parent along on short, day trips
Include your loved one on things we take for granted. Inviting your parent on out of town grocery runs, or out to the Hunnan restaurant, rummage sale-ing, whatever. This way he or she has choices, to either go along or not, but at least there are options.
If not living close enough to your parent, please try to call at least once a week. Try to call on the same day of the week and same time.
Sometimes, though, like any other normal adult your parent probably does enjoy being home, alone, in a quiet house. That’s something to remember as well.
Author Bio
Emma is part of the community team at Greenwood Homecare who provide a range of high quality care services. Emma is passionate about improving the quality of care that elderly people receive in the UK and around the world.
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