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Socialization
Social interaction is an essential part of leading a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
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The value of socialization in in-home elder care. Did
you know that senior citizens with who are not actively connected in
social settings are statistically nearly twice as likely to die as
socially connected elders in a given time frame? The fact of the matter
is social interaction is an essential part of leading a healthy and
fulfilling lifestyle. Routine social interaction with peer and interest
groups, family and friends can reduce a senior’s risk of sub-clinical
depression and stroke. Furthermore, a vibrant social life can
greatly increase the overall quality of a senior’s life. Sharing ones
interests and hobbies with others, reminiscing over the virtues of
yesteryear and discussing the challenges of today, or simply just
having a group of friends who care for them can built a vital sense of
community and have a dramatic affect on an elderly individual’s
attitude and outlook on life. Sadly, many seniors view such
important social interactions as burdensome for their care givers and not worth the hassle involved in getting to and from
them. Low self esteem and the feeling that the can no longer
contribute to society all too often drives seniors to resign to living
a lonely and isolated existence in their golden years.
Community Companions’ overview of socialization services. Community
Companions has a solution to this disheartening circumstance.
Companions can empower your loved one to discover the psychological and
physical health benefits of participating in a social community.
Our dedicated in-home care professionals will take an active interest
in your loved one’s life. We can provide encouragement to
reconnect with old friends, pursue interests and hobbies, become
involved in fraternal and spiritual congregations and develop healthy
routines of social interaction. Companions can facilitate transportation
giving careful consideration to the special needs of disabled or
particularly fragile individuals. Your loved one’s companion can
offer friendly reminders
of the times and dates of up coming social engagements, enabling senior
who suffer from memory loss to enjoy participation in organized groups.
Health benefits of leading a well-balanced lifestyle as a senior. Your
loved one can reap the benefits of a well balanced lifestyle. The
onset of sub-clinical depression, related to an elderly person’s
withdrawal from social interaction as mobility issues take affect on
his or her life, is a serious issue facing our older generation.
Nearly 2 million adults over the age of 65 suffer from depression and
the health implications are startling. The onset of depression
increases a senior citizen’s chances of suffering a debilitating stroke
by 73%! Furthermore, studies released by the National Institute of
Mental Health have found that even mild bouts of depression can
increase the rate of bone mass loss and hasten the onset of
Osteoporosis in women. Researchers believe this is due to an imbalance
in the immune system directly related to depression. Depression
has also been linked to a degradation of immune system response by
researchers at Ohio State University. This means that a depressed
senior is far more likely to become ill than one who leads and active
and socially engaged lifestyle. Since illnesses as minor as a
common cold can progress into serious conditions such as pneumonia in
the elderly, a lack of social interaction must be treated as seriously
as other health issues. The consequences of a senior’s reclusion into
their own home are clearly devastating, but the solution is simple to
remedy this situation. A focused and deliberate effort to encourage
your loved one to socialize can combat depression and mitigate these
issues before they become realities. A companion can enable your
loved one to freely pursue those relationships so vital to their
physical and mental health.
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