Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Guest Post: How Seniors Can Thrive When Living Alone

By Daniel Lewis

Living alone can be a challenging experience at any age. Although, when you’re in your later years, the concerns increase dramatically. This is primarily because you may be more prone to get sick or have health issues that could worsen without proper care. Here are a few suggestions for living well while living alone.

Living Alone Doesn’t Mean Living a Lonely Life

You may not share your living environment with someone else, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel alone. Maintaining friendships, socializing and discovering new sources of joy are essential for keeping depression and loneliness at bay.

When you take the time to reach out to other seniors living on their own, you might find that they are facing many of the same difficulties you are. You can offer each other some much-needed support and encouragement. Life is much better when we have friends surrounding us and seek common ground with others. What could be better than staying in touch with someone dear, taking time for a visit or lending a hand when it’s time to go to the doctor?

It’s Never Too Late to Make New Friends

Even though you may not have the friends you used to, you can still make new ones. You might find a new friend at a local senior center or even during a visit to the grocery store or doctor’s office. Your local parks department might sponsor summer picnics or organize trips to regional sporting events. Keep an open mind and you just might find the friend that changes your life.

Better yet, the more active you are, the easier it will be to forge new ties and create positive opportunities at every stage of your life. Getting out for walks or enrolling in a senior exercise program at a university, gym or hospital will help keep you looking and feeling better longer.

Ask for Professional Help When Necessary

If you’ve decided to age-in-place, you can still take advantage of professional support in the comfort of your own home. Nowadays, you don’t need to live in a skilled nursing facility to get top quality care. Caregiving and medical specialists are often only a call away if you find you’re no longer feeling your best, either physically or emotionally. Doctors and trained social workers can help you assess your current physical and mental health, as well as establish an individualized treatment plan to get you back on track.

If you find you aren’t able to maintain the quality of life you want while living alone, options abound in every community. You might be surprised to find that a retirement or assisted living center will enable you to live better, surrounded by those who can offer you the support you need. 

Daniel Lewis writes about health and fitness-related issues. He has a deep knowledge of the field and is a regular contributor to http://www.foresthc.com/, which focuses on elder care homes and retirement villages in the UK.

1 comment:

  1. It's really pleasure to read your post. Thank you so much for writing such a nice post.
    Visit: Minnesota Assisted Living

    ReplyDelete