It’s no secret that seniors are more vulnerable to feeling lonely. In fact, 25% of those over age 65 are considered socially isolated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A few reasons why seniors might feel lonely include:
- Living alone.
- Not having family members close by.
- Hearing loss.
Unfortunately, loneliness and social isolation increase health risks for depression, dementia, and even heart disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic has ramped up the loneliness and social isolation felt by seniors as well as people of any age. To help combat this loneliness, however, some kind souls are making specific moves to help seniors in their lives. Here are a few examples.
- In Bolivia, Sergio Royela started a program called Adopt a Grandparent. The program lets people “adopt” a grandparent and help cover the costs of items such as food or deliver food in person. One participant helped her new “grandparent” obtain an ID card, which was important so the senior could participate in assistance programs. Ten percent of Bolivia’s population is made up of seniors.
- Mary Daniel’s husband Steve entered an assisted living facility in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2013 due to early-onset dementia. Mary continued to visit him daily, and they would eat together and watch TV. However, when the pandemic hit this year, the facility where he lives had to close to visitors. That got Mary thinking about how she could see with her husband as she knew he would feel lonely and isolated. Because he has Alzheimer’s disease, phone conversations are difficult. When she visited him at the window, he would cry. She inquired about volunteering or getting a job there. In July, the corporate office offered her a part-time dishwashing job, which she gladly took. She now is able to see her husband every day. He doesn’t understand why she is working there, but he recognizes her and enjoys their time spent together again. Daniel also started a Facebook group called Caregivers for Compromise to raise awareness about social isolation during the pandemic.
- Jordan Mittler, 16, of New York helped seniors get connected through Zoom near the start of the pandemic. He started by initially texting a group of seniors he knew with a few instructions. However, that didn’t work, and he had to end up calling people one-by-one to talk them through the process of downloading Zoom, getting an account, and typing in a meeting ID. Once that was done, Mittler was able to guide the 50 participants through weekly only technology classes. Mittler has taught senior technology classes for four years through his business, Mittler Senior Technology.
Now that you’ve read some interesting ways that people around the world are helping seniors, think about what you may be able to do here in Bradenton and Sarasota. Are there ideas you can use here to help seniors in your life feel less isolated or lonely?
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients’ age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
