Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Re Kielar, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My siblings and I all live out of town. Mom lives on her own and is doing fine, but she keeps to herself and sometimes says she feels lonely. She doesn’t like to socialize too much, so we are a little concerned that she is isolating herself. How can we help her have socializing in her life?
A. Socialization is very important for all of us, but more so as we age. Research has proven this! Spending time with others benefits our overall health. This includes improving our quality of life, physical health and mental health. The challenge you mention is a common concern among children of aging parents. If your mom finds herself unmotivated to get out and about and socialize, it might be a good idea to consider a professional caregiver to come into the picture. This may give you and your siblings a little piece of mind. Interview several homecare agencies and work with one you feel meets your standards. It will be important to find the right personality that resonates with your mom. A caregiver is more than just a provider of custodial care. A great caregiver knows how to interact with their client by involving activities that are of interest to the client. This may involve games, puzzles, outdoor walks, gardening, appreciating music, art, and so much more. Once a routine in the home is in place, you can work with the caregiver to encourage outings in the community. A visit to a local senior center could help open up her world and might even bring about opportunities to develop new friendships. We are blessed to live in an area that offers so much to do. Remember that keeping a consistent schedule for your mom will help her stay mentally fit and will help her have a meaningful life. Take small steps to introduce the idea of a caregiver into her life. I know that sometimes this is a difficult step, but if you emphasize that this will help you and your siblings peace of mind, she may be willing to explore the idea!
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to rkielar@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
