Seniors often rely on the same resources for socialization, which can get boring. Spending time at the senior center and talking to the neighbors are great activities, but your aging loved one may want to expand his or her social circle. These unique tips can help your loved one make friends and come up with new topics for conversation that make socializing more enjoyable.
Use Multiplayer Gaming Apps
Video games provide an easy form of entertainment seniors can enjoy even if they become housebound. Many games seniors can play on phones or handheld devices allow them to interact with other players. Encourage your loved one to try having some friends sign up to play the same game together. Your loved one may enjoy a little competition and be able to communicate with others.
Chat on Senior-Friendly Forums
Many online social platforms are overrun with younger adults who may not always want to chat about senior-friendly topics. Fortunately, there are websites designed specifically for people who are over a certain age. Your loved one can find people there who want to talk about health issues, gardening, and current events.
Older adults can benefit from being matched with home caregivers who share similar interests and backgrounds. Home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Choose a Surprise Outing
Regular lunch dates are great, but seniors constantly run into the same people. Consider writing down the names of different restaurants and other venues your loved one would like to visit on slips of paper and put them in a jar. You can pull one out once or twice a week to plan a surprise outing. Your loved one may be more likely to try out new places and discover untapped opportunities to socialize.
One of the many tasks a home caregiver can assist your loved one with is transportation to outings and social events. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elderly home care. Potomac families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we provide mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Enroll in a Virtual Class
Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and seniors can meet many people by taking online classes. Virtual classes are ideal if your loved one needs to spend the majority of the day at home. Whether your loved one takes dance lessons or learns a foreign language, he or she will meet people who enjoy the same things. It’s also common for students to form friendships that extend beyond their classes.
Pick Out a Pet
Socializing doesn’t always have to involve another human. Having a pet around provides a reason to chat with others. Having a dog or cat gives your loved one the perfect excuse to go out, where he or she is bound to run into other people. Your loved one can take the pup to the dog park or carry the cat into a pet-friendly store. Seniors often find people are more likely to strike up conversations when they have favorite animals in common.
Sign Up for a Remote Volunteer Position
Many seniors have had to give up their jobs or volunteer roles to protect their health. If your loved one misses getting to interact with people every day, he or she can look for a remote volunteer position. Your loved one can make phone calls from home that serve as a social opportunity.
Seniors who live alone may welcome the companionship of in-home caregivers. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs senior home care, Potomac, MD, Assisting Hands Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. To talk to one of our friendly Care Managers and create a customized senior care plan, call us at (301) 363-2580.
