Blog

Social Engagement for Senior Citizens

November 22, 2019
Linda Kunicki
Staying socially engaged is very important for senior citizens. There are senior centers, family members, friends, and senior care providers who can all help to make sure the senior citizens in your life stay socially engaged. The importance of social engagement is not to just have a good time. It can help improve the health of the senior citizen in your life, as well. It can help beat depression and improve energy levels in senior citizens. There are many ways senior citizens can stay socially engaged. 

Visiting with Friends and Family Members

One of the best ways for senior citizens to stay socially engaged is by visiting with friends and family members. They can spend time with someone every day if they need to. It is highly recommended that someone at least spends time with a senior citizen at least once every 2 to 3 days. This way if there is anything going on with them, someone can figure that out. 

Joining Classes

Another way for senior citizens to stay socially engaged is by joining classes or groups. They may want to join a fitness class, crocheting group, or something else. If you aren’t able to take them to these classes or clubs, you may want to hire a senior care provider to do so. Remember, social engagement is very important for many reasons. These classes and groups could be just what the senior needs to help them stay stable. 

Learning New Things

Social engagement can be done by learning new things, too. There are many new things that elderly citizens can learn. They can attend classes, learn something new online, or you can teach them something new. Learning a new language is one excellent thing for senior citizens to do. It improves their brain functioning and boosts their knowledge at the same time. This can help to reduce the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. 

Spending Time with Senior Care Providers

There are many things that senior care providers can do with your elderly loved one. They can play games with them, do crossword puzzles or board puzzles with them, make meals with them, and much more. By spending time with senior care providers, your elderly loved one can build relationships, reduce isolation, improve their energy levels, and much more.

These are some of the many ways that your elderly loved one can stay socially engaged. If they aren’t currently doing these things, make a schedule to get them more socially engaged very soon. It is important for their health and their future. Social engagement can be as simple as sitting there and having a cup of coffee with your elderly loved one. Even the small things count just as much as the big things. Keep that in mind. 

Sources
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_social_connections_keep_seniors_healthy
 

IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING SENIOR CARE IN BROOKFIELD, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE LA GRANGE. CALL TODAY: 708-551-2500.