When you go to work every day, you see familiar faces and have the opportunity to socialize. Socializing keeps the mind active. Then comes retirement, and we no longer see those familiar faces, our routines change, and we lose contact. Many seniors see solitude as a wall that separates them from the outside world, leaving them helpless and imprisoned in a meaningless life.
It is essential to the emotional and mental well-being of seniors to spend time with others, as it helps prevent depression. If a senior is already depressed due to ill health, mobility issues, or the death of a loved one, spending time alone worsens depression.
Maintaining a network of healthcare professionals, friends, family, and neighbors can help break the cycle of solitude. Meaningful relationships help nurture positive feelings about oneself and boost self-esteem.
Seniors suffering in solitude may be overwhelmed by negative emotions and experience anger or sadness, feeling neglected or rejected, or even misunderstood by others. It is not uncommon for seniors to experience anxiety over feeling like a burden on others or feeling vulnerable because of diminished capacity or ill health. The loss of a driver’s license due to cognitive or physical decline or lack of public transportation can make seniors feel worthless and dependent on others.
Coping strategies for change
Let us now discuss some coping strategies. Some seniors become more active through gardening, if physically able, and others volunteer to care for animals. Joining a book club, bowling team, or another social pursuit gives you something to look forward to regularly. Planning to regularly get together with family and friends for lunch or dinner.
Retirement and assisted living facilities provide socialization, even for those with mobility issues. Crafting and singing are also fun social activities for seniors. Online chat forums and Facebook are great places to reunite with long-lost friends. If you are unsure how to join some of these online social activities, ask for the help of a friend of a family member and enjoy participating in an online community.