Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My children are recommending a companion to stop by my home twice a week. I don’t see the need or really know why they insist. I can do just about everything by myself, it’s just that I live alone and sometimes wish I had a little company. My children all work and live far away.
A.Living alone is something that may bother family members more than it bothers us. Yet, I do understand how important socialization is to our overall health. Personally, I believe we are made to live in a community with one another. Your family can’t be with you on a constant or consistent basis, and they want to make sure you have social stimulation. Having a companion doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself; it’s an extra set of eyes for your family that gives them peace of mind.
So what would it look like for you to have a companion? It might mean you’d have someone who could run errands with you, go to the movies with you, or even play cards with you. A companion is someone who can link you to the world by talking about and doing things you might not normally be involved with. It’s an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings which, believe it or not, are sometimes not shared with family.
A companion can even get us to stretch beyond our comfort zone and try new hobbies or interests. My friend’s mom used to visit her local health club where she would observe other seniors participating in the water sport classes. But that’s as far as it went. She was afraid to participate because she was afraid of the water. It wasn’t until a companion encouraged her to go into the water and try it that she entertained the idea that she could do possibly do it.
Well, she did, and her mom has loved it. A companion can boost self-esteem and that’s exactly what happened. Companion care is sometimes overlooked for those living alone in their golden years. However, it’s a viable resource to help get through what could be a lonely time of life.
• Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email at apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
