Many elderly individuals struggle with feeling lonely occasionally. They have had life changes that can make it more difficult for them to truly connect to others and form healthy relationships that provide the emotional support that they need. When an elderly person also becomes ill or has an injury that restricts how much they can get out and socialize, the effects of loneliness can increase and damage their state of well-being in many ways. Hiring live-in home care providers can help them with some of their issues and provide solutions to remedy their feelings of loneliness.
How Loneliness Affects an Older Adult’s Health
Being isolated from others consistently, or feeling like they don’t have people to connect with regularly, can affect an older person’s health negatively in several ways.
It can increase their risk of developing any of the following:
- Weakened immune function
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Anxiety
- Heart disease
- Depression
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
Is Your Loved One At Risk for Loneliness?
While being homebound can increase the risk of feeling isolated and lonely, not everyone develops those feelings. Everyone has a different number of people connections that they need to feel part of a community.
As a caregiver, some signs that you can watch for to determine if your loved one is feeling isolated include:
Being angry more often. You might expect to see more emotions like sadness, but some elderly individuals will display their feelings by getting angry at the small things and snapping at those few people in their lives.
Less desire to get out of bed. Loneliness can cause your loved one to want to stay in bed all day, whether it’s sleeping or lying awake.
Overspending her budget. Many people combat loneliness with online shopping. Your loved one might be spending nights purchasing things she doesn’t need to get that little rush of joy when she makes the purchase, only to regret it later.
Overindulging in bad habits. It could be eating too many sweets, drinking too much alcohol, or gambling on the internet.
Steps to Reduce Loneliness in Homebound Seniors
While there are many steps you can take to help your loved one alleviate these feelings of loneliness, it can be more difficult when your loved one isn’t able to get out and interact with her community like she would like to. Oftentimes, for homebound individuals, they need to have the community come to them.
One way your loved one can connect with the outside world is through the internet. With proper safety precautions discussed and reviewed regularly, your loved one can find communities online that enjoy the same things she does. Some social media groups discuss just about every type of hobby or passion, such as birds, reading, old-time movies, conservation, and so much more.
If your loved one doesn’t need a lot of daily help with her care, a visit from someone who offers companion care at home can help brighten her week and provide her with someone to chat with and connect with.
If your loved one has multiple health issues or needs more one-on-one help during the day, a live-in home care provider might be the answer. With live-in home care, your loved one will have someone there to not only assist her throughout the day but also provide companionship for a good portion of the day. Live-in home care providers can share meals with her, play games, or simply watch her favorite TV show with her. They can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Live-In Home Care Services near Newtown, CT, please call and talk to our friendly and dedicated staff. (203) 744-8380
Home Care Advantage provides quality Non-Medical Home Care for seniors and families in Danbury, Bethel, Easton, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Southbury, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and surrounding areas.
With over 25 years of healthcare experience working with seniors, our model and approach to non-medical home care services are straightforward, providing you with the compassionate care you deserve. Providing care from the heart is what we are all about; we proactively work with you and your family to develop a care plan designed to meet your specific need for assistance and budget.
In addition to having an extensive work background in healthcare, my recent educational experience allowed me to earn my Doctorate Degree in public healthcare. This achievement enhanced my knowledge of the ever-evolving healthcare delivery system and heightened my awareness that you cannot go it alone to get the best outcome. Additionally, I have seen how some of my family members struggled and were overwhelmed with ensuring that their parents were safe and their needs were met. They did not know who to trust or where to turn for reliable and affordable help. I have made it our mission to be part of the solution allowing seniors to remain independent and be treated with the respect they deserve.
We are committed to providing excellent care for our clients, just as we would care for members of our own families. Please be assured that I will use my knowledge and background to protect and be a trusted resource for seniors and their families.
You can be confident that our caregivers are carefully screened, dependable, and selectively chosen to meet the specific needs of our clients. They are experienced and highly trained to provide excellent quality care and follow a strict professional code of conduct and ethics.
Our caregivers are competitively paid directly by our agency; there is no additional charge to you. Home Care Advantage files Social Security/Medicare, Federal and State Withholding Tax, and Unemployment Insurance for our employees. Workers’ compensation insurance and a fidelity bond cover the caregivers and supervisory staff.
Our caregivers are here for you and will work hard to assist you with your specific needs in the comfort of your own home. It is said that “Home is where the heart is.” Let Home Care Advantage provide care that will enrich your life and help you maintain an independent lifestyle in the comfort of your own home, “where you want to be.” Call us now! We look forward to working with you and your family.
Dr. Beverly J. Ruekberg, DHP, MPH, MA, Ed.
President/Geriatric Care Manager
- Loneliness and Homebound Elderly - June 5, 2025
- Signs Your Senior Parent Needs Extra Help At Night - May 15, 2025
- Healthy Spring Meals Your Senior Parent Will Love - May 1, 2025
