While many seniors prefer to age in place to retain the comforts and familiarity of home, there are challenges that come with aging at home. In particular, the lack of mobility that comes with age, as well as the loss of close friends and family over time, can lead to reduced social interactions inside and outside of the home for seniors.
About one-third of adults ages 50 to 80 report feeling lonely, and social isolation has been linked to faster aging and negative health consequences. In fact, a 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General noted that social disconnection can increase premature death in the same way that smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day can.
Whether you’re a hands-on family caregiver or you’re caregiving from a distance, you want the best for your elderly loved ones. Even though you may already have routines that help you stay in touch with family members, it may be worth reevaluating how often you’re checking in with senior loved ones and how you can further demonstrate your love and care for them to help them maintain good health into their later years.
Why Frequent Check-Ins Matter
Loneliness and social isolation can contribute to anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness among older adults, so it’s important for family caregivers to check in with senior loved ones on a regular basis to boost mental health and social connections.
These check-ins also allow you to keep an eye on your loved one’s overall well-being so you can note lifestyle or health changes that could signal additional support is needed.
Physical Safety
Vision, balance, strength, and mobility often decrease among seniors as they age, which can lead to an increased risk of falls and injury. Visiting your loved one’s home regularly—or asking someone to check on them if you live far away—can help you observe how your loved one is moving around and address trip hazards and other dangerous areas before they become a serious issue.
Activities of Daily Living
If you’re not checking in with your aging loved one enough, you might miss obvious signs that they need assistance at home. For instance, struggling with activities of daily living (ADLs)—such as eating, bathing, grooming, or toileting—can be easy to overlook if you’re not visiting often, but can lead to much larger health and safety issues for your loved one later down the road if not addressed with personal care support.
Health Conditions
As your senior loved one ages, they’ll have an increased need for medical support and oversight. Especially if older adults have chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or Parkinson’s that require ongoing medications, therapies, or doctor’s appointments, it’s a good idea to remain involved in their care plans to ensure they’re following their healthcare providers’ instructions.
Medication Management
Around 89% of adults 65 and older in the U.S. take prescription medications to manage health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis. Unfortunately, sometimes, poor eyesight or memory loss can lead to dangerous medication mix-ups. Additionally, because prescription drugs are costly, some seniors may skip doses or delay getting prescriptions, which can cause new problems. Helping to manage your loved one’s medication routines can help ensure they’re taking the right drugs, at the right time, in the right doses.
Cognitive Decline
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, regular check-ins can help you monitor signs of cognitive decline. Both dementia and Alzheimer’s can progress quickly and lead to safety issues like wandering or falling, so it’s crucial that you track your loved one’s symptoms to determine if professional at-home dementia care or a more structured memory care environment is needed.
Ways to Show You Care
Even if you aren’t able to see your senior loved one on a regular basis because of busy schedules or living far away, there are plenty of ways you can check in with them and help them feel seen, supported, and loved.
Use Their Love Language
Have a conversation with the aging relative in your life about their love language. While you may feel appreciation and love through physical touch or receiving gifts, your senior loved one may feel most loved when hearing words of affirmation or spending quality time together.
Stay In Touch
Communicating with your loved one consistently can provide that feeling of warmth they need. Some older adults are delighted by notes and cards that arrive by mail, while others are energized by social media, video calls, and in-person visits. Some of these connection points offer an opportunity for you to check in to make sure they’re doing well.
Focus and Listen
Although your days may be filled with to-dos, reminders, and, it’s important to set aside those distractions when talking to elderly loved ones. Treating them with respect and giving them your full attention is a meaningful way to show someone how much you care. If you need some ways to keep the conversation going, try asking questions like:
- What have you been reading lately?
- Have you watched any good movies recently?
- Have you tried anything new lately that you enjoyed?
- Is there something on your calendar you’re looking forward to?
- What can I do to make your day better?
Provide Encouragement
Especially if your loved one is healing from surgery or recovering from an injury, progress can feel slow and difficult. Checking in with them frequently to cheer them on can be the boost they need to keep going on difficult days. Tell them how great they’re doing or how much stronger they are today than they were yesterday. These little compliments can go a long way in encouraging their recovery.
Nourish Their Soul
Some people prefer to express—and receive—love through food. Taking time to make your senior loved one’s favorite meal can provide fuel for both their body and their spirit. Pre-making and freezing meals (including instructions for re-heating) is also a wonderful way to provide for their ongoing needs.
Give a Little Gift
It’s the little things that matter when maintaining connections with loved ones. When it comes to gift giving, remember that gifts don’t need to be expensive to be meaningful. Young children can draw pictures for their grandparents, teenagers can put together a playlist of your loved one’s favorite songs, or you can buy little treats that will bring joy to your family member.
Consider In-Home Senior Care with BrightStar Care®
While checking in with elderly loved ones can give you peace of mind and remind them that they’re loved and appreciated, there may be times when your loved one needs extra TLC.
BrightStar Care has compassionate caregivers and skilled nurses who can provide that additional support. With in-home care services like companion care, personal care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and skilled nursing care, we help seniors age comfortably at home while providing family caregivers with the respite they need.
Find a location near you, contact us online, or call (855) 261-4959 to learn more about how BrightStar Care offers A Higher Standard®.