Why Social Connections are Important for McKinney-Area Seniors

As seniors in McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Prosper and surrounding communities in Collin County, TX ae. they may experience a variety of scenarios that make it difficult to stay socially engaged. In fact, many seniors who live on their own run the risk of becoming isolated from friends, family and their local community due to circumstances like health issues, moving to new surroundings, losing loved ones over time and more.

Over time, social isolation can lead to long-term health and emotional issues that can negatively impact their overall quality of life. Therefore, if you suspect your senior loved one isn't staying as socially engaged as they used to, it's important to find ways for them to stay connected.

Whether you choose to come up with ideas on your own or hire a professional caregiver from Visiting Angels McKinney to provide in-home companion care, it's essential to understand the impact of social isolation on seniors and how you can help your loved one stay in touch with the people they care about.

What Families in McKinney, TX and Surrounding Areas Should Understand About Social Isolation

The problem of social isolation among elderly in McKinney and surrounding areas is serious and requires an immediate and proactive approach toward finding a solution. Identifying risk factors and early symptoms may help your senior loved one remain physically and emotionally engaged and create a better mentality.

What is Social Isolation?

According to the National Institute on Aging, social isolation is the "lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly." It's similar to loneliness; however, loneliness refers to the feeling of being alone or not having anyone around, while social isolation refers to not having enough people in their life to connect with.

Why are Seniors at a Greater Risk of Isolation?

Although anyone at any age can be at risk of social isolation, seniors often experience this more often due to changes to a person's circumstances that typically come from aging.

Some potential risk factors of social isolation among seniors include:

Physical and cognitive health issues: There are numerous age-related health issues that can make it more of a challenge for seniors to stay in touch with friends and family. For example, mobility and vision issues can make it a challenge to leave the home or drive to social gatherings. Dementia can also increase the likelihood of social isolation, as it can make seniors forget to attend social functions or make them more irritable and less willing to engage with others socially.

A shrinking social circle: Over time, your elderly loved one's circle of friends, family and acquaintances may get smaller. For example, if your loved one retires from their job, they may have less opportunities to interact with former colleagues. The death of friends, family members and spouses can not only reduce the amount of people in your loved one's life, but the grief may also cause them to feel more withdrawn.

Distance from friends and family: Family and friends may move away over time, giving your loved one less opportunities to stay socially engaged. Although some moves may be necessary (like adult children moving away for employment opportunities), it will nevertheless have a impact on your loved one's social life.

Relocating to new surroundings: If your loved one moves into your home or to an assisted living facility, they may need to get used to new surroundings and neighbors. Not having their familiar group of friends nearby can make them feel distressed and less willing to engage socially with those around them.

What are Signs of Social Isolation in Seniors?

If you've noticed the following behavioral or physical changes in your senior loved one, it may be a sign that they're socially isolated:

Nervous and anxious behavior

Lack of interest or withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy

Overeating, malnourishment and other changes in eating habits

Changes in sleeping habits, such as sleeping too little or too much

Disregard for personal hygiene and cleanliness

Increased feeling of disorientation, irritation and confusion

Extreme hoarding behaviors resulting in clutter and messiness in the home

How Can Social Isolation Impact Seniors?

Social isolation can negatively harm a senior's emotional health. Not having people who are close to them can cause them to not trust those around them and can lead to feelings of anger and uneasiness.

However, social isolation can have greater long-term consequences. The stress reactions a senior's body makes in response to emotional anguish from social isolation are similar to those from physical pain. Long-term social isolation may lower your senior loved one's immunity (the body's capacity to fight off illness) and cause chronic inflammation (the excessive or prolonged release of substances that can harm tissues). These reactions can make your loved one more likely to become infected with a contagious disease or develop a chronic condition, such as heart disease or hypertension.

Finally, social isolation can also negatively impact a senior's brain health. Not only can it make it easier for you loved one to forget how to perform everyday tasks like cooking and driving, but it can also increase their risk of cognitive decline and developing Alzheimer's and similar conditions.

Easy Ways for Seniors in McKinney and Surrounding Areas to Stay Socially Engaged

Although social isolation is a common cause of concern for seniors, there are many ways you can help your loved one make social connections and stay in touch with friends and family, including:

Hosting Gatherings

One way to help your elderly loved one go out and mingle without leaving the house is to host a simple get-together. You could bring your family with you on a trip to your loved one's home and enjoy a nice home-cooked meal or encourage them to invite some friends or neighbors over for a cup of coffee. Also, if your loved one has a hobby like reading, they could form a book club and enjoy reading with others in their community.

Digital Tools

There's a variety of modern technology available to help your loved one make social connections when it's too cumbersome for them to leave the house. Social media, texting, FaceTime and other tools and platforms offer a great way for older adults to spend quality time with people in their lives.

Online Games

If your loved one likes mentally stimulating games like chess, Sudoku or Scrabble, there are online versions of these games that they can play with friends and family. Not only does this give them the chance to spend quality time with those they love without having to leave the house, but it also provides an opportunity to boost their cognitive skills and stay mentally sharp.

Volunteer Opportunities

Your senior loved one can meet other like-minded people who are passionate about a cause and enjoy giving back to their community by volunteering in McKinney and the surrounding communities in Collin County. If your loved one is looking to lend a helping hand, community centers, schools, animal shelters, youth sports clubs and other local organizations are good places to start.

Consider Professional Companion Care from Visiting Angels McKinney

Visiting Angels offers in-home companion care for seniors in McKinney and throughout Collin County, including Allen, Prosper, Frisco and nearby communities. Our caregivers will visit your loved one and spend quality time with them through meaningful conversation, participating in their favorite hobbies, encouraging them to get involved in their community and providing a caring and compassionate presence in your loved one's life. We also help seniors learn how to use digital tools to stay connected with friends and family through our Social Care program.

Unlike other local home care agencies, we believe in a personalized, one-on-one approach to caring for seniors. That means your loved one will get the companion care they need on their terms so they don't feel socially isolated. Our commitment to helping seniors remain independent has made us a trusted resource for older adults and families in McKinney and surrounding areas since 2008.

Learn how Visiting Angels can help your loved one today! Call our McKinney, TX office at 214-491-1999 or fill out our form to schedule a free in-home consultation.