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The Importance of Socializing During Your Senior Years

Ed Cotter | October 16, 2009

It should come as no surprise to learn that keeping your social life active during your senior years is healthy. You will not only feel better emotionally, but continuing to interact with friends will help to keep you physically healthy. The problem a lot of seniors face is that, as they grow older, their circle of friends faces changes. People they have been close to for years may move away, their health may deteriorate to the point of hospitalization, and eventually, they will pass away. It can be difficult to continue to stay socially engaged with so many drastic changes. Seniors should also remember isolation can lead to depression, so it is important to keep active and engage in social activities. Even those who fear their communication ability may not be what it used to be, should make an effort.

Communication is essential for mental health. Researchers find as the ability to communicate slips away, it can lead to isolation and depression. This can increase stress, lessen a desire to be productive, and result in a decrease in quality of life. It can be tough to interact with others when you are feeling stress, or if you feel as if your health has changed and impedes your ability to communicate. However, if you are able to work with patient friends and family, they will ease your concerns. Not all seniors have friends and family near enough to interact with them daily, though. Seniors Helping Seniors can help you find someone who is able to assist with daily tasks, as well as keep you mentally active. The helpers at Seniors Helping Seniors are matched with their clients to ensure they have the ability to help, and an interest in communicating with their seniors.

Various studies have shown that social activity contributes to keeping your mind healthy. The more mentally active a person is, the less likely they are to develop dementia. Even those who are high risk can slow the deterioration process by keeping social interaction a major part of their life. Many believe those who keep their minds active with social interaction, as opposed to passive activities like reading and writing, gain an even greater benefit. It seems that social interaction protects the brain: Conversation and emotion stimulates a greater biological response in the brain than other activities. Human interaction also goes a long way in reducing stress.

The challenge for seniors is finding people who they are able to comfortably relate to and who share similar interest. This is where Seniors Helping Seniors can help. A lot of times as we age, communication lapses strictly because the people we used to participate in recreation with are no longer available. If a good deal of your social interaction involved a weekly golf outing with your buddy, and your buddy now has severe hip problems, you may find yourself in far fewer social situations. Seniors Helping Seniors has a thorough interview process and will pair you with a fellow senior who has similar interests, if social interaction is what you desire. If your goal is to enjoy the company of a kind, compassionate person with similar interests, who also has the ability to help you meet the challenges of daily life, then Seniors Helping Seniors can help.

Senior helpers from Seniors Helping Seniors are professionals. They are able to provide companionship and recreation, but they are careful not to blur the boundaries between professional and personal relationships. If you fear your family may have concerns, there is no need for them to worry. Seniors Helping Seniors carefully trains their helpers so they understand their role in a senior’s life. They are able to assist you with challenging tasks, while also providing a kind listening ear or supportive story to which you can relate. Best of all, they can fill some of the roles life has left open for you. If it is a dance class partner or walking buddy you need, they can do that. Or if you need someone to cook with, they can do that too.

If it seems like your opportunity for social interaction is slipping away, it is important to take action. Recreation and companionship may be the difference between staying mentally sharp and emotionally balanced. If you find yourself going out less and experiencing less social interaction, contact Seniors Helping Seniors to help bring things back into focus.

About Ed Cotter

Author Name

Ed is currently an entrepreneur and Regional Owner of the Southwest Seniors Helping Seniors (SHS) in-home services. SHS’ mission is to improve the quality of life of seniors by providing non-medical in-home services to allow seniors to live in their homes longer with dignity and independence. From September 1999 to May 2009, Ed was the Vice President, Compliance & Government Relations, Health Net, Inc. Ed’s responsibilities included administering the Medicare compliance program and management of relations with the Agency that administers Medicare, CMS. Ed designed and implemented Health Net’s first Medicare compliance program. The compliance program adapted to frequent changes in Medicare, addressed all aspects of Medicare performance and was consistent with the best practices in the compliance arena. Ed provided leadership in the expansion of Health Net’s Medicare business as a member of the Senior Products Division executive management team over the last 5 years growing the Division’s annual revenue from $1.4 to over $4.0 billion. HN membership grew to over 700K members. Before coming to Health Net, Ed was a member of Kaiser Permanente’s corporate legal department for six years providing enterprise-wide legal services on all aspects of health care regulation.

Seniors Helping Seniors

(610) 898-0090
Reading, PA 19601 http://shs-southwest.com/

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What People Are Saying.

  • sp
    Senior socialization is something we have to learn because one day we will be reach our senior years.
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