Did you know that 43 percent of seniors feel lonely? As people age, their social circle often shrinks. Friends or family can move away, old colleagues can lose touch, and health problems can keep people indoors. If your parents aren’t socializing as much as they used to, you may be wondering how you can help them.
Companion home care can help. But, how do you have a conversation about senior home care with your parents? Gently mentioning the many benefits of this service can help. Here are five major benefits of companion home care.
1. Someone to Talk to
An obvious benefit of companion home care is that your parents will have a friendly person to talk to. Every day, a caregiver can come to your loved ones’ house for some companionship and conversation. They can chat about past experiences, entertainment, hobbies, or other fun topics.
Your loved ones’ caregiver can also help with hobbies. This can include things like playing cards, playing board games, or scrapbooking. It can also include outdoor hobbies like working in the garden or going for walks.
2. A Sense of Security
With a companion caregiver, your parents will feel a sense of security. They’ll know that they have a trusted person in their home. If they have a fall or some other medical emergency, someone will be there to call for assistance.
You’ll get a sense of security, too. When you’re unable to be with them, you’ll know that your parents are safe in their home. You won’t need to worry that they’ve hurt themselves and are all alone in the house. This gives all family members peace of mind.
3. Help with Household Tasks
Companion caregivers do more than just chat with your loved one. They can also help out with basic tasks around the house as well as meal preparation or transportation and errands.
For example, the caregiver could load the dishwasher after preparing a nutritious lunch for your parents. Or, they could put in a load of laundry before they sit down to play a board game. They could also feed the pets, water the plants or take them to the grocery store.
4. Help with Transportation
Do your loved ones need help getting around? Their companion caregiver can help with that, too. If your parents or loved ones are no longer able to drive, or if they just don’t like driving, a caregiver can help with that. Caregivers can also help with public transportation, if they have trouble navigating it.
Help with transportation ensures your loved ones get to their important medical appointments on time. It also ensures they can get to the grocery store and other places they need to visit during the week. Driving your parents to their appointments, or mapping out bus routes for them, can be stressful, so this takes some pressure off you, too.
4. Improved Health
Loneliness takes an emotional toll, but it’s also bad for your health. Loneliness is a major risk factor for depression, and it can also cause high blood pressure. Lonely people are more likely to do live at risk through eating poorly, not getting exercise, or smoking. What’s more, feelings of loneliness are linked to a faster cognitive decline and risk of dementia. With all these health consequences, it’s no wonder that social isolation has a negative effect on the quality of life of seniors.
A companion caregiver can help your parents feel less lonely, which can help improve their overall health. Of course, having a companion is not going to address every health concern, but seeing a friendly face every day is one of the best ways to ensure your loved ones’ happiness and wellbeing are both taken care of.
