Elder Care: Why Holidays Can Heighten Your Parents’ Loneliness

Once the holidays end, do your parents get regular visits from family members and friends? Do you live too far away to see them often? That’s not unusual. When families live in different time zones, it can be hard to stay in touch. That can heighten the loneliness your parents feel during the rest of the year. Having elder care services can help to alleviate this situation.

Elder Care Abbottstown PA - Elder Care: Why Holidays Can Heighten Your Parents' Loneliness

Elder Care Abbottstown PA – Elder Care: Why Holidays Can Heighten Your Parents’ Loneliness

During the holidays, you’ve all gathered. Your parents love having their siblings, nieces/nephews, kids, and grandchildren around. They crave socialization, but this can become an issue when the holidays end. It may be months or a full year before they have a house full of visitors again.

How do you ensure your parents have plenty of chances to socialize throughout the year? Here are a few ideas to help them stay in touch and ensure they don’t feel isolated or lonely.

Call Regularly

A regular phone call is one way to help your parents feel involved. Call every few nights, even if it’s for a few minutes. If you make the call during a specific time, such as dinner, they’ll have someone to talk to while they eat.

Chat Online Via Video

If your parents are tech-savvy at all, they’ll be able to video chat with you. With services like Google Hangouts, Skype, and FaceTime, your parents can chat with you over a tablet or phone. Get a smart display and set it up to call people with a voice command and make it extremely easy for them to use.

Find Area Social Groups

Look for services in your mom and dad’s area. If there is an area senior center, library programs like reading groups, or fitness programs with the recreation department in their town, they’ll have the chance to socialize.

Get Them to Volunteer

If your parents are able to volunteer, that’s a great way to socialize. They could offer to help deliver flowers and gifts to patients at the hospital. Their local library might need volunteers to sort books and help keep the computer software updated.

They may not be able to leave their home, but that doesn’t mean they can’t volunteer. They could help the Smithsonian Institute transcribe old documents. Everything is done online, so they don’t have to leave their home, yet they’re still chatting with others involved in the project.

Set Up Companionship Through Elder Care Services

Talk to an elder home care specialist about companionship services. Your mom and dad don’t have to be alone every day. With caregivers stopping by regularly, your parents have ample opportunity to socialize. One call to our elder home care agency gets you started.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Abbottstown PA, please talk to us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions.  In-home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.

Jessica Ott