We make so many friends in our entire life. Some of them are even like our family, who’s always there when we need them. But as we grow old, these relationships and ties become even more important.
That’s mainly because many seniors experience isolation and loneliness in later life, even in their own family circle. That’s where friends step in…
According to a paid companion for elderly UK, “There is nothing like having good friends. It is incredibly effective for the senior’s health, happiness, and overall well-being to have loyal friends when they need them the most.”
How Loneliness and Isolation Impacts a Senior’s Health and Well-Being?
Many studies prove that seniors facing loneliness and isolation are at a higher risk of developing various mental and physical illnesses. According to research, social isolation increases the risk of death in the same ratio as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.
What’s important for family members and care workers is to understand that social loneliness and isolation are real issues and should be treated beykent escort | İstanbul Escort Bayan accordingly.
The Health Benefits of a Good Social Life
Speaking of the health benefits, seniors who are socially connected with people of their age are more likely to have a long and healthy life. Here are some of the many benefits of having good friends and connections in later life.
Reduces stress and depression
Being in constant touch with a friend or a loved one can significantly improve your senior’s mental health and wellbeing. By developing close bonds with friends, one can easily overcome the negative feelings of depression and anxiety. As a result, your elderly loved one can enjoy improved confidence and a deep sense of belonging.
Give you a purpose in life.
Because your close friends are always there for you whenever you need them. It gives seniors confidence that they have someone who’s taking care of them and making them more likely to look after themselves.
They give you a purpose in life and help you overcome unexpected situations such as losing a loved one, chronic illness, trauma, etc.
Improves self-confidence
Seniors surrounded by friends tend to be more self-confident than those who are alone or socially isolated. Having friends in life allows seniors to talk, share, and care.
They can go out with them, share their thoughts. And plan things they can’t even do with their sons and daughters.
Boost your cognitive ability
One of the biggest perks of friendship therapy is it improves your cognitive ability. Social communication and interacting with people of the same age group and interests will stimulate the brain.
The result? Lower risk of dementia, improved memory, and the will to live a long and healthy beylikdüzü escort | İstanbul Escort Bayan life.
Better physical health
We shared several benefits of friendship therapy in the previous sections. But did you know having good friends in later life can also improve the physical health and wellbeing of your elderly?
Friendship is linked with the strengthening of the immune system. Having more loyal friends in life will make it easier for your body’s immune function to fight off various diseases and infections.
Many studies also validate that seniors having strong social circles have a better chance of fighting contagious diseases, such as cold, flu, and even a few types of cancers.
Apart from this, friendship therapy will also improve your heart health. Not only this, but some studies also prove that seniors who have more friends can better fight off several autoimmune diseases, including arthritis.
Lower risk of dementia
As discussed above, socially active people perform better in terms of memory and cognitive skills. Hence, they’re usually at a lower risk of developing memory-related illnesses, such as dementia. Here, it is essential to understand that friendship therapy alone won’t yield as effective results as when coupled with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
At this point, you must have a clear understanding of the benefits of friendship therapy. Now, there are two ways you can go about it – maintaining existing friendships or forming new connections. We’re going to have a quick look at both these approaches down below:
Keeping Existing Friendships Alive
As we grow old, we may begin to find it harder to maintain existing friendships. That’s mainly because of the fact that mobility and frequent travel can become truly challenging at this age.
But that doesn’t mean you let your old faithful friends go just because you can’t visit them too often. There are countless other ways you can keep your existing friendships alive. For instance, you can talk with them via phone, invite them over for a video call, send out presents on special occasions. Basically do everything to let them know you’re there and you care.
Making New Friends
At times, your seniors have no other choice except to make new friends. Encourage seniors to make friends who’re cooperative and share their interests.
Pitching in to help others can be the easiest way to engage with others. This will also provide your elderly loved ones a chance to go out of the house and meet different people face to face.
You can also get your elderly loved one enrolled in a class where they can engage with different people and talk with them. For instance, if they’re interested in learning a new language, they can join the respective class to learn a new skill. Plus, this will also allow them to talk with people who share the same interest as beylikdüzü grup escortlar | İstanbul Escort Bayan theirs.
Some other ways to help the elderly make new friends are by getting them involved with their faith community, tapping into social media, accepting a part-time job. Or joining a gym where they get to meet with new people every single day.
The Final Cut
As they say, “real friends are a blessing.”
A true friend is a companion who will be there for you no matter what. If you have some amazing friends, make sure you maintain good relationships with them so you can have a great time together when you grow old.
