The Importance of Staying Social as You Age and Using Home Care to Support You

As we age, one of the primary concerns for many people is social isolation. Yet our elderly years are a time where we need to be socially connected to stay well and healthy – mentally and emotionally.

It is an inherent human need to want to share experiences and your time with other people. But for many elderly Australians, social isolation occurs for many reasons - spouses and friends pass away, you may have lost the ability to drive or you may have a physical impairment that prevents you from being as active.

However, with some forethought and the right home care support, we can help you stay socially active as your needs and circumstances change with age. It is not necessarily about having many friends, but more about a willingness to stay engaged in activities that give you enjoyment. You may even find some new activities or hobbies to get involved in – we are never too old to learn something new!

Statistics from beyondblue show that around 10-15 percent of older people experience depression and/or anxiety and that loneliness brings on these conditions.

Social isolation doesn’t just happen overnight. What we have observed is that it is a gradual progressive change that starts with people becoming hesitant to go out. The reasons for wanting to stay indoors are often all valid.

Do any of these reasons sound familiar to you for choosing not to go out as often?

  • “I’m too tired”
  • “I don’t drive”
  • “I don’t want to go alone”
  • “It’s not that important anymore”
  • “I’m getting older, and older people stay home more often”
  • “I have aches and pains and the whole idea of going out is too bothersome”

Statistics from beyondblue show that around 10-15 percent of older people experience depression and/or anxiety and that loneliness brings on these conditions. So plan ahead and avoid some of these pitfalls as you age with our help. The team at St Louis Home Care will put together a home care support plan that addresses the social aspect of your care.

Do you love Bridge, going to the Cinema, reading at the Library, going for a Coffee? You can take a Home Carer with you

Home care packages were introduced to support people to stay at home longer. There are four different levels of support from low level to high level care. Home care support is not just for people who have come out of hospital or need medical support at home, it is for anyone over the age of 65 years, that needs a little bit of help to stay well and active at home and in their community.

A recent study showed that for every home care hour used, it reduces the incidence of entering a residential aged care facility by 6%. This is a significant finding, as it proves that when people are in the comfort of their own homes as they age, they live longer and healthier.

A little bit of extra help with social support goes a long way

You can allocate a good part of your home care support package for social support services. For example, we can:

  • take you grocery shopping
  • take you to your local Bridge game
  • go to the cinema with you and your favourite coffee shop afterwards
  • take you to local club and community events
  • drive you to visit friends or family

Using your home care package to keep your social life active is not only a smart thing to do, it also a proactive use of your services!

If you want to discuss how we can support you to be more socially active, call St Louis Home Care Adelaide on 08 8332 0950 or St Louis Home Care Victor Harbor on 08 8552 1481 and chat with our friendly team.

Want to learn more?

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