When many people think of hiring companion home care for an elderly member of their family, the focus is on physical needs like administering medication, assisting with basic hygiene, and running errands. While these are all very important tasks for a home companion to do, these professionals also play a key role in elderly socializing. These are some of the many ways that hiring a private caregiver or companion can benefit the social needs of elderly adults, especially as a nursing home alternative or when family members don’t live nearby.
The Importance of Socialization
One of the most common afflictions that affect elderly adults is depression. Many seniors wish to stay in their own homes for as long as possible, but this can lead to isolation if friends and neighbors don’t check in on them regularly. Over time, many seniors lose their ability to drive a car safely, which means that they don’t have easy and independent access to go out and meet up with friends. Seniors may also begin to experience the passing away of a spouse or friends who are their age, and this can lead to sincere feelings of loneliness and loss.
When seniors aren’t mentally and socially stimulated on a regular basis, their mental health deteriorates and mild feelings of sadness and loneliness can lead to serious symptoms of depression. Seniors who are depressed may be more likely to stop taking their medications or stop eating nutritious meals that their bodies need. The immune system is impacted by a person’s mental and social health, so seniors are more likely to get sick and notice chronic conditions becoming worse if they are isolated and depressed.
Services Provided for Elderly Companion Care
A companion home care professional can provide social companionship in many different ways, such as planning social activities and encouraging mental stimulation through conversation. When seniors lose touch with old friends and family members become busy or move away, a private companion can help fill those social gaps and suggest activities that put seniors in contact with their peers.
Here are some examples of how a personal companion can improve elderly socializing habits:
- Play board games and card games together
- Put puzzles together as a team
- Read the same book and have discussions about it
- Watch favorite movies together
- Research and find local activities to go out and do together
- Ensure that exercise activities are performed in a safe and controlled way
- Suggest arts and crafts activities to do together
- Present a list of new potential hobbies to pick up
- Take shopping trips together to the mall
- Go on scenic drives together to beautiful places
Companion Home Care as a Nursing Home Alternative
Oftentimes, family members move away from the elderly adults in their lives due to careers or personal interests. This leads many older adults to be placed in nursing homes even though they don’t truly need the full range of nursing home services. Companion home care is a great alternative to premature nursing home care and a way for seniors to remain in the homes they love and are comfortable in for much longer.
Where to Find Home Care for the Elderly in Their Own Homes
If you or the elderly adult in your life could benefit from some more socialization and the social services of a private caregiver, then you’ll definitely want to work with a trusted staffing agency that thoroughly screens candidates to find the very best person for the job. Since 1974, Household Staffing International has been assisting families like yours with finding caring and competent staff members to go above and beyond their required duties. Contact us to learn more about how a home companion can make the senior in your life happier, healthier, and safer every day.