How Can In-Home Care Workers Help Seniors with Companionship & Social Interaction?

How Can In-Home Care Workers Help Seniors with Companionship & Social Interaction?

For many seniors, aging in place is the ideal outcome. The familiarity of home, your possessions, and your cherished memories are all comforting. You know where everything is and never have to worry about learning a new space.

But with the positives come negatives. Living at home, especially if you live alone, is isolating. You might spend several days in a row without talking to another person. This can foster deep feelings of loneliness, fear, and even depression.

You may not require assistance in the kitchen or with personal care just yet. However, if you’re feeling lonely, you may start wondering: how can in-home care workers help seniors with companionship and social interaction?

Caregivers can partake in activities with you

On top of their other caregiving duties, your at-home care worker is there to foster a meaningful connection with you. For many people, this means partaking in some of their favorite activities. Whether you want someone to play board games, take walks, or simply read with, your at-home caregiver can be that person.

Caregivers can also help you pick up new hobbies. Provide them a list of needed supplies to pick up from the store, and when they return, the two of you can give it a try together.

Caregivers can offer stimulating conversation and interaction

It’s possible you don’t even need someone to do regular activities with. For some people, all they need is another person to engage in meaningful conversation with—and on occasion, lend an ear. Your in-home caregiver will be that thoughtful listener, engaging debate partner, or companion.

Regardless of what you need, your caregiver will offer compassionate and thoughtful support.

Benefits of social interaction

If you’re still unsure about whether or not you should call upon an in-home care worker to help with companionship, read more about the benefits of social interaction for seniors. Some include:

• Fights depression. Depression is so much more than poor mental health—it can have an impact on your physical health too. Seniors with depression are more likely to succumb to illness and heal more slowly. Social support helps fight depression.
• Increased mental alertness. Conversation between individuals stimulates the brain, which helps keep seniors mentally alert. Even a silly conversation would be beneficial to your mind and mood.
• Extends life. One study found that isolated seniors were at a higher risk of dying at a younger age than seniors who remained socially active.

Companionship is beneficial to your mental, emotional, and physical health alike. Find a companion in your at-home caregiver.

Home Care Powered by AUAF can help

The dedicated caregivers at Home Care Powered by AUAF are available to offer you support with whatever activities of daily living you need—including companion care. For nearly 30 years, our staff has been instrumental in helping seniors live comfortably and confidently at home. In addition to helping seniors with companionship and social interaction, our caregivers will assist with:

• Personal care
• Medication reminders and management
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Laundry
• Errands
• Brain games and activities

To learn more about how an at-home caregiver in Illinois can improve your quality of life, call us at 773 -274-9262.