5 Ways to Help Your Senior Friends and Neighbors
Maybe you’ve gotten to know a senior neighbor who doesn’t seem to have any family living nearby, or perhaps your senior acquaintances from church have mentioned feeling lonely and isolated because they live far away from their loved ones. Today, The Sewing Room shares a few ways to lend a hand to seniors who are isolated, from assisting them with decluttering and stress management to helping with financial decisions.
Decluttering and Home Organization
Many seniors have trouble keeping up with home organization. Decluttering and organizing is fairly labor intensive, and some seniors live in large homes where lots of clutter has accumulated over the years. If you have a senior friend who wants to go through their belongings and figure out what they can get rid of, offer your assistance. Sometimes, seniors can free up space by digitizing physical documents, as well. Your senior loved one might have stacks of paperwork and files that they could digitize to create more room. You can help them upload these paper records with a scanning app.
Making Big Decisions
The golden years often involve navigating the complex process of choosing local nursing and care facilities. As your senior neighbor deliberates this significant decision, your role can be invaluable. Offering a listening ear as they weigh their options, discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each possibility, can make a substantial difference. Additionally, suggesting stress-management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and prioritizing their most important needs can be immensely supportive. Your involvement can help mitigate the pressure from these decisions, making the journey smoother and more manageable for them.
Pitching In With Errands
Most seniors would appreciate help with lots of different errands. Classic LifeCare states that many seniors require assistance with going to doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, cooking, and planning meals. They may need a ride, or they might require help with the task itself. If you’ve noticed that one of your senior friends is unable to keep up with personal hygiene on their own, you can help them connect with an in-home caregiver.
Offering Technical Assistance
While you may not always be able to install smart home devices for your senior buddy yourself, you can certainly play a crucial role in ensuring their smooth operation. Online resources provide easy-to-follow instructions for troubleshooting common issues, enabling you to assist effectively from afar or in person. This support ensures that your senior friend can enjoy the benefits of their smart home devices without the stress of technical difficulties, enhancing their daily life with technology.
Spending Quality Time Together
Finally, don’t overlook the value of simply enjoying quality time with your senior friends. Blue Moon Senior Counseling states that many seniors struggle with loneliness, and companionship makes a big difference in their quality of life. They might want to share stories of their youth, talk about hobbies they’ve picked up in retirement, or bond over your shared interests. Simply having someone listen can be a great mood-booster.
Spending time with your senior neighbor by attending a class at The Sewing Room can be a fulfilling experience. The Sewing Room offers a variety of sewing classes suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced sewers. These classes provide an opportunity to learn and share a creative skill together, fostering a unique bond and creating lasting memories. Whether it’s working on a project of your choice or tackling something new, The Sewing Room in Alameda is an excellent place to engage in creative play and build confidence through sewing.