Loneliness can very quickly lead to depression and to even bigger mental health issues, so resolving what you can for your senior is a priority. Open up to your senior about what you’re seeing and let her be vulnerable with you about what she’s feeling.
Rule out Medical Issues
Health issues have much more of an impact on mental health than most people realize. Your elderly family member may be dealing with complicated health issues that cause her to isolate herself, thereby causing loneliness. Or she might have health issues that are more embarrassing than anything else. That can cause her to avoid friends and other people she cares about. Treating her medical concerns can help with a lot of this.
Help Her Determine if Boredom Is a Contributing Factor
Being bored can do a real number on your senior’s mental wellbeing, too. Boredom can affect your senior’s desire to do anything at all, including be around other people. So, it can be a good idea to see if shaking things up a little bit might be helpful for your aging family member. Trying a new hobby or just adjusting her routine could do the trick.
Make it a Point to Adjust Your Attention
When you’re a family caregiver, your other responsibilities don’t go away. There’s a lot that you’re balancing, ranging from things you want to do just for you to career obligations and so much more. Getting stuff done and getting those tasks cleared off your to do list is probably a high priority, but it might come at a price. You may want to take a closer look at how you’re spending your time with your senior. Adding a mindful element to those interactions can make a big difference.
Sit Down and Talk about a Plan
Talk to your elderly family member about what you can do, what she needs, and what she wants. That’s going to help you to put together a plan that works for her and helps her to feel a lot less lonely. There may be solutions you can put in place from what you’ve already looked at. Something else to consider is bringing in elderly care providers. They can help your senior with hands-on tasks, but they can also be there with your senior in a way that you may not be able to right now.
There may not be one single answer to your senior’s issues with loneliness. But by working together, you can find multiple solutions that help.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering elderly care in Greenwood Village, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today. Call us at (303) 756-9322.
