How To Help Your Aging Parents Avoid Feeling Lonely

Loneliness is a common problem for seniors. To help minimize the risk of your parents feeling lonely as they age, try putting these seven tips into action:

1. Stay in touch. Life is so busy that you may not be in contact with your parents very often. As they get older, however, it is important to reach out to them more frequently. This is especially true if their spouse has passed away, if they are no longer qualified to drive themselves around, or if they have passed a certain age. Don't wait for a special occasion to contact them. Instead, reach out to them regularly just to check in and see how they are doing. As an example, my husband talks to his mother Alice, who is 90, every single day. Even though she still has her independence, it does her good to hear from him on a regular basis.

2. Drop by for in-person visits. Stopping by for a visit provides a couple of different benefits. For one thing, it gives you a chance to make sure that everything is okay. It also allows your parent to enjoy your company, whether that means sitting around the table visiting or getting a hug. If you live too far away, you may want to look into making video calls using a service like Skype. Even if you and your parent aren't on the best terms, this type of contact is still important.

3. See what resources are available in the city or town that your parent calls home. The vast majority of cities have senior centers or other facilities where older people can participate in activities and meet others. Typically, these facilities offer everything from bingo to dancing. Even if your parent has always preferred to sit on the sidelines rather than joining in, you should try to convince them to get involved. If you want, you can go with them. Alternatively, you can help them arrange a way to get to the senior center on their own so that they can try it out for themselves suggest Senior Care Center. Building new friendships and getting involved can do wonders for the mental and emotional health of a senior.

4. Plan activities with your parent. Are there certain types of activities that your parent enjoys? Whether they love going to theater productions, comedy clubs, festivals, or concerts, you should be able to find a range of activities in your area that you can do together. Most seniors are hesitant to do things alone, even when it comes to activities that they enjoy. By offering to go with them, you can help keep them more active, allowing them to live a more fulfilling life.

5. Protect your parent by making sure they don't get taken advantage of. For instance, elderly people often enjoy playing the lottery or entering contests. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people who try to take advantage of seniors by holding fake contests or trying to get them to pay to claim their prize. If your parent enjoys entering contests, sit down with them regularly to review any entry forms for potential red flags.

6. If you live too far away from your loved one to visit them in person, think about hiring a qualified professional to periodically check in on them. These services aren't just beneficial for seniors who are stuck at home. They also can be extremely beneficial for seniors who are lonely or who require a little bit of extra attention. Oftentimes, people who work in these roles are trained as social workers or have nursing experience. They can help your loved one plan activities and can even assist them with getting wherever they need to go.

7. Help your loved one master technology to make it easier to stay connected. Today's technology has revolutionized the way that people communicate with one another. If you can teach your parent to use a computer with a built-in camera, they can enjoy far more interaction with the world around them. Once they know how to use the computer, they can even use it for things like ordering products from the store, looking up information, or paying their creditors. The Internet puts the entire world right at their fingertips, helping to keep them from feeling as isolated. The best part is, most seniors pick up on how to use computers quite quickly, making it well worth the effort to teach them.

Loneliness is a natural part of life for people in every age group. For seniors, however, it can be particularly challenging. The aging process makes it harder to get around. They also may be less likely to reach out to the people around them. To help keep them from feeling too lonely, it is important to regularly stay in contact. Not only is it good for their emotional well-being but it also can help protect them from being taken advantage of by people who are trying to scam them.