New parents painstakingly work to ensure that the vital parts of a newborn's development needs are met. From calculating the best time to introduce foods to providing opportunities to flex newly formed muscles, to connecting a newborn with age-appropriate peers, the start of life is filled with specifically chosen activities intended to promote health for a new baby.
As we become responsible for our own health and welfare, keeping up these expectations to maintain physical and emotional health normally falls on us alone. But as we age, making sure that all social needs are met can be pushed to the side to tend to the usually increasing physical ones. However, it is vital to continue to provide social interactions for seniors to ensure their emotional and psychological well-being thrives into their later years.
The description of what constitutes a social interaction for a person remains relatively the same, regardless of age. Social interactions, by definition, are any activity or situation that brings together two or more people. When we are younger, social interactions fulfill many purposes like meeting others with similar interests, competing in a sport, or simply strengthening bonds with those you already know. For seniors, these same purposes for social interaction still exist, but the intensity of the social activity might be less. Physical challenges of seniors can make many types of social interactions trickier without planning, but the long-term benefits of these interactions are undeniable.
Being alone is something many seniors face when they lose a partner or family grows up and moves away. While short intervals apart from others are not generally considered harmful, not interacting with others for extended periods can cause a noticeable decline in mental health. Depression, a serious mental health concern, can result from this isolation that many seniors feel. Seniors are especially susceptible to depression as they are likely to experience loss of close friendships and connections.
Mental health issues like depression can be slowed or avoided altogether when seniors are given an opportunity to connect with others regularly. Seeing another senior who has shared life experiences, even if they're only a stranger of the same age with whom they can talk and reminisce about the old times, can be a lifeline for many seniors. Just like younger adults like to talk about exciting and memorable times in their lives, so do seniors. Providing an opportunity to talk, laugh, and think about positive and uplifting topics can be an enjoyable activity for seniors. Regular social interaction can help stave off depression, loneliness, and mental health decline.
One of the most dreaded diagnoses a senior can hear is a dementia-related one. Engaging socially has a big impact on the size and health of gray matter in the brain. Since a change in gray matter is associated with memory-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, social engagements are vital to slow down the progression of these conditions.
While improved physical abilities are always an expected result of intentional exercise, a senior’s physical health can improve from intentional socially interactive activities. For example, when a senior is given opportunities to connect with others, emotional bonds are strengthened. Research studies show that seniors who spend time with their grandchildren tend to stay more physically active and may eat healthier or even minimize unhealthy behaviors like smoking as a result of this emotional bond. Cardiovascular health is also improved when social interactions are made a priority for seniors. Most social interactions also involve, at the least, a small amount of physical movement like walking. Regular continued movement can help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
All people can benefit from being around other people regularly if for no other reason than the fact that frequent human contact is enjoyable. Seniors who are connected socially to their neighbors and others nearby will in turn feel safer to get out and exercise or seek interaction more often. Whether participating in small talk at a common mailbox with a neighbor or attending a lengthier meetup activity with a friend, all social interactions add up to a larger feeling of social well-being for seniors. A study of seniors in Detroit by the National Institute of Health found that if seniors felt connected to their neighbors, they described their neighborhood as safer. Because of that feeling of connectedness and safety, these seniors spent more time outside and they were observed to have longer sustained health than peers that described their relationships to neighbors as disconnected. Social interactions are directly tied to their perceived safeness in their surroundings, which in turn contributes to physical health.
Our physical, mental, and emotional well-being are intricately intertwined strands that, braided together, reflect our overall health. However, each of these threads becomes increasingly fragile as we age. With adequate social engagement opportunities, seniors can enjoy greater physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. Caretakers and families of seniors should make intentional social interactions a regular part of senior care, leading to a happier and healthier senior!
First Choice Senior Care of Central Arkansas is a licensed home care agency that specializes in non-medical home care for seniors. We strive to ensure a better quality of life for our clients and their families with comprehensive senior care services. If you would like to learn about our team and our services, contact us today to find out more!
Co-Owner, First Choice Senior Care
Kayla Stephens is the co-owner of First Choice Senior Care. She grew up in Northeast Arkansas, and has worked in rehabilitation, hospice care, managed nursing homes and a large home care agency. She has received several awards for sales and quality achievements in hospice and long-term care.
Kayla believes in advocating for and educating seniors and their families on a variety of topics and issues that impact them. Reflecting on the need for an independent home care provider interested in quality over quantity, she chased her dream of building her own company that would make a significant difference in the lives of seniors, providing a much-needed service in her own local community.
Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas State University, is licensed by the state of Arkansas as a Long-Term Care Administrator, and is a Certified Senior Adviser.
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