Social interaction is an important part of life. As adults, we look forward to interacting with our family members, friends, and coworkers on a daily basis. We long for the deep conversations that we will have with our significant other.?
But for seniors who live alone, social interaction may not be as commonplace. Their children move away, they retire from their jobs and they may inevitably lose loved ones along the way. As they grow old, they become housebound and wish for a much-needed companion.
For them, companions are not just people who assist with daily chores but they are individuals who provide meaningful connections and brighten up their days. In addition to this, here are other reasons why companionship care is so important:
- It offers peace of mind
Old age comes with the loss of physical strength and mobility. This makes it dangerous for seniors to live alone. And if they do, family members will consistently worry about their state of health. It is common for family members to wonder whether their loved ones are safe or if they made it up the stairs without suffering a fall.?
Companionship provides both the family members and the senior much-needed peace of mind. There is peace in knowing that there is someone looking after the senior and keeping them safe when necessary.
- It offers immediate friendship
We all long for a friend; someone to trust, talk to from time to time, and to confide in. And while we all crave to have special relationships with other human beings, this kind of companionship is even more important for seniors. This is where companionship care comes in.?
As it is difficult for seniors to go out and interact with the world, a companion healthcare provider spends time with the senior patient, showing them that they have a friend and someone to count on. In turn, this wards off loneliness for many seniors because they will laugh, converse, and interact with the home care professional. Social interaction is imperative to a senior patient?s health and mental wellbeing.
- It promotes an increased sense of security
With companionship care, seniors know that they have someone to look out for them in case anything happens. They can call on their companion to help them pick up the phone or even prepare a snack.
?In case they fall or find it hard to climb a flight of stairs, they can count on the professional caregiver to lend them the help that they need. The sense of security that comes with this kind of care is hard to find elsewhere. Ultimately, seniors will know that no matter what happens, they can always feel safe when their caregiver is around.
- It improves overall health
Loneliness is not a feeling that is short-lived. For many, it is a deep emotional ache that introduces and fuels health problems. Seniors who are lonely often suffer from anxiety and depression.?
And with feelings of sadness and despair taking over, conditions lie high blood pressure and insomnia are not far behind. By investing in companionship care, it will be easy to keep feelings of loneliness and isolation at bay. And without giving into loneliness, seniors are known to live happier and healthier lives.
- It encourages positive mental stimulation
Activities like gardening, putting a scrapbook together, and indulging in deep conversations go a long way in stimulating the mind. When seniors and their caregivers indulge in such activities then they are taking the right steps in stimulating their minds.
?As such, the senior will remain mentally active and will rarely deal with the forgetfulness that comes with age. Consistent mental stimulation may also help in dealing with mild and moderate conditions of dementia and Alzheimer? (northpointewellness.org) s. Did you know that it takes a ten-minute conversation to improve memory?
- It helps with recovery
The findings of a research that was conducted by neuroscientists around the world concluded that companionship helps patients recover quickly from the pain of surgery because of the comfort, encouragement, care, and excitement that companionship offers.?
With a trusted friend nearby, seniors who undergo medical operations will suffer lower inflammation levels and nerve-related pain. This aids in speeding up the recovery process.
Investing In Companionship Care
As a majority of seniors are comfortable living at home, it is important to ensure that they can still maintain social interactions by bringing a caregiver into the home. Companionship care is much more than a service.?
For seniors, it may be the key to the happy and healthy life that they so much desire. Caregiving professionals develop meaningful relationships with their clients and in turn, have a positive effect on their overall well-being.
