Scheduling Social Activities for Seniors

Staying socially connected is one of the most important ways for families to support the emotional and mental well-being of the seniors they love. Even simple activities with other people can bring a lot of joy, reduce feelings of loneliness, and keep seniors engaged with the world around them. Companion care at home makes all of this even easier, because professional caregivers can be there on a schedule that works well for seniors.

Talk About What Seniors Want from Social Events

Before filling the calendar, it’s important to understand what seniors want and expect from social interactions. What kinds of social interaction do they want? Some aging adults love being around larger groups of people while others prefer one-on-one activities in their own homes. Home care providers can help seniors to go where they want and need to go, making it even easier to customize the experience for aging adults.

Assess How Much Time Seniors Have for Social Activities

It’s also important to look at how much time and energy seniors have for social events. Fatigue, medical appointments, and even time to emotionally recharge can all factor into this decision. Seniors may want to set aside specific times for socializing, which makes companion care at home an excellent solution for meeting those needs.

Look at Existing Routines

If seniors already have a pretty busy life, but still want more personalized social engagement, it might be time to look at the routines they already have. Sometimes fitting in an appointment with companion caregivers might look a little different than family caregivers expect at first. For instance, seniors might really want someone to enjoy lunch or dinner with, particularly if they’re social eaters. Understanding the routines seniors already have can make those needs more obvious.

Make Socializing Easy and Fun

Most importantly, none of this should feel like a chore or obligation for seniors. If socializing isn’t fun, then there’s something wrong. Keeping things simple and low pressure means that it’s going to continue to be something that seniors enjoy doing. Companion caregivers can offer flexible schedules that allow seniors to have visits when they want them, even if that schedule is a little irregular.

Keep Track of What Works and What Doesn’t

Every senior is different, and they have different needs. They may also find that over time their socialization needs change. As they spend more time at home, for instance, companion care at home may become a bigger part of their social calendar. Keeping track periodically of what is working and what isn’t allows seniors to personalize their experience. They get the social connection that they need and want, and it ends up working for them because they were able to have a say in the structure.

Companion care at home is about being there for seniors and spending time with them in the ways that best meet their needs. As seniors continue to age in place, they may need help in different ways and companion care allows for those adjustments.

If you or an aging loved one are considering companion care at home in Bronxville, NY, please contact the caring staff at Griswold Care Pairing for Scarsdale & Yonkers today. (914) 337-5028.