In fact, many seniors who live on their own run the risk of becoming isolated from friends, family and their local community due to circumstances like health issues, moving to new surroundings, losing loved ones over time and more.
Over time, social isolation can lead to long-term health and emotional issues that can negatively impact their overall quality of life. Therefore, if you suspect your senior loved one isn't staying as socially engaged as they used to, it's important to find ways for them to stay connected. Whether you choose to come up with ideas on your own or hire a professional caregiver from Visiting Angels McKinney to provide in-home companion care , it's essential to understand the impact of social isolation on seniors and how you can help your loved one stay in touch with the people they care about.
The problem of social isolation among elderly in McKinney and surrounding areas is serious and requires an immediate and proactive approach toward finding a solution. Identifying risk factors and early symptoms may help your senior loved one remain physically and emotionally engaged and create a better mentality. According to the National Institute on Aging , social isolation is the "lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly.
Although anyone at any age can be at risk of social isolation, seniors often experience this more often due to changes to a person's circumstances that typically come from aging. If you've noticed the following behavioral or physical changes in your senior loved one, it may be a sign that they're socially isolated:.
Social isolation can negatively harm a senior's emotional health. Not having people who are close to them can cause them to not trust those around them and can lead to feelings of anger and uneasiness.
