One of the challenges of growing older is coping with life changes. Many of these events are not only emotionally difficult, but they alter the daily routines of your life and create new challenges. If you have relied on a friend or spouse for certain tasks or chores, it may be tough to manage your life once they are gone. If you are in need of assistance with the daily challenges you face everyday, Seniors Helping Seniors can lend a helping hand.
In many countries, senior family members continue to live at home until their death, or until they are too ill to be cared for by loved ones who are not medically qualified. The founder of Seniors Helping Seniors, Kiram Yocum, compared this senior care situation with what typically occurs in the United States: She realized that people were often put in nursing homes in the United States merely out of convenience. But if they were able to stay at home, they would have a better quality of life, as well as an improved attitude and outlook. However, if a senior couple has spent their entire life caring for one another and sharing their daily chores, it can be a significant challenge for one of them to take on the duties of two people, once they are living alone. For example, if you and your spouse owned a home, you may find keeping up with the daily maintenance alone can be nearly impossible. Your home will require outdoor maintenance that could include mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or caring for the garden. Indoors, you will find daily chores need to be done like vacuuming, washings dishes and laundry.
Not only can caring for your home be a challenge, facing life without the company of the person who has been your lifelong mate is a lonely prospect. While no one can replace your loved one, having the sympathetic ear of a friend can help. Your children will be struggling through their own grief, and others around you may not relate to your situation. The benefit of calling on Seniors Helping Seniors means you have a chance to receive help from someone facing the same life challenges as you. Some of the helping seniors have chosen to work for the organization to help them cope with their changing life situations. With the help of their interview process, you will receive the help of a fellow senior who understands the challenges of your personal situation. He will be able to offer practical help with chores and daily life, as well as understanding and support for your emotional challenge. While not trained grief counselors, their life experiences help them understand. As Ed Cotter, owner and operator at Seniors Helping Seniors Southwest states, “They listen and are more like a friend. This is companion care.”
Those who have spent years participating in activities that involve pairing with a friend or spouse will find themselves struggling not only with the loss of a beloved companion, but with time on their hands now that they are unable to enjoy their hobby. Some may find it is too painful to continue activities they once shared with someone else, but others may miss the fun the activity once brought them. If you are looking for someone to accompany you on trips, be your partner during classes or lessons, or enjoy a night of recreation and socializing, Seniors Helping Seniors can help fill this gap. Instead of dragging a family member who lacks enthusiasm to bingo night or a foreign film festival, consider finding a fellow senior who also shares a passion for your pastimes. The interview process will allow you to share your hobbies and Seniors Helping Seniors can pair you with someone who enjoys the same things as you. This way, you will not feel as if you are inconveniencing a friend or family member who would otherwise not enjoy your chosen past-time.
Changes you face later in life can be difficult both emotionally and physically. If you are in search of a way to keep your life as familiar as possible, in the face of losing a companion or spouse, consider contacting Senior Helping Seniors for assistance.
