As people age and their circumstances begin changing, they may become depressed. Perhaps they lost their lifelong spouse, the children and grandchildren don’t visit very often, or they simply don’t feel up to physical activity. For a variety of reasons, inactivity and isolation can creep up on seniors – but this is a dangerous place for them to be.
Depression and loneliness are very common at this stage of life, and not having regular social interaction can also cause the onset of dementia. If you have a loved one in your life who is living alone, you can help them to stay active and social; which in turn can make their life much more healthy and enjoyable. 
Seniors May Need Encouragement
Left on their own, many seniors will isolate themselves. They may not necessarily intend to do so, but often they feel limited by physical challenges, or are unsure of traveling even short distances on their own. In these and many other scenarios, there are steps you can take to enable your loved one to enjoy their life more fully by engaging in social activities.
- Address their Physical Needs: If your senior is in need of any technology which will help them to relate to the world. make sure they have it. This could be a hearing aid so that they can easily engage in conversation, a walker so they feel steady when visiting a restaurant, or a medical alert pendant in case of emergency. By providing them with the devices they need to stay safe, they may feel better about venturing out into the world. You may also wish to make sure that they have a cell phone to call you directly in case of a problem. You can program in your number and tape a note to the back with your contact information.
- Anticipate any Problems: If incontinence is a possibility, address solutions before they leave the house for any length of time. This will help ease their concerns about embarrassing themselves. Time outings between medication dosages if possible, so that they don’t have to concern themselves with remembering to take pills – but teach them to travel with at least one extra dose with them. If they tend to get overwhelmed, avoid crowded areas such as shopping centers, and opt instead for a walk to a park bench by a pond. The key is to make them feel as comfortable about leaving their house as possible.
- Arrange for their Transportation: Many seniors no longer drive, and will likely not leave if it is their responsibility to call a taxi or shared ride. If you cannot pick them up and accompany them, arrange for their ride to pick them up, and explain that they should go to the door and assist with any walkers, wheelchairs, or the like. You may also put the word out that you need someone to drive them to their activities – very often, a friend who lives close by will be willing to make a little extra money providing transportation, while also providing a much needed personal relationship and rapport.
- Do the Research: Your loved one may not sit on the internet searching out activities which they would enjoy. But you can find age and activity-level appropriate events for them to attend or clubs to join; an avid gardener may wish to volunteer at the Botanical Gardens once a week, or someone who loved to dance would like to join friends at the ballet.
The most important way that you can help your loved one to stay active is to stay involved yourself. By taking an interest in spending time with them, planning outings which excite them, and removing the fear and the obstacles – you can go a long way towards making these years happy and fulfilling.
If the seniors in your life are at a point where they require assisted living or memory care, choose a Venice facility which encourages social interaction. At A Banyan Residence, we understand how important staying social is for your loved one’s mental and physical well-being. Come learn more about us today.
