Companion Care Sarasota

How Senior Companion Care in Sarasota Can Help with Isolation

At Visiting Angels® Sarasota, one of our biggest concerns is the health and well-being of isolated seniors in our area. As a popular destination for retirement living, Sarasota is home to a large population of senior adults who live by themselves. Without strong family and social support networks, these seniors are at high risk for a number of physical and emotional health concerns. Seniors who live alone in the Sarasota area are increasingly turning to companion care services to help safeguard against the effects of senior isolation.

Seniors in Sarasota who rely on companion care services benefit from the company, conversation, and assistance of skilled caregivers. These services for private pay home care are offered to seniors in any living situation, but they’re especially valuable to seniors who live by themselves. At Visiting Angels Sarasota, families with seniors who live by themselves often turn to us to help find companion care service referrals for their loved ones.

As our parents age they end up spending increasing amounts of time alone. It is estimated by the US Census Bureau that over a quarter of seniors over the age of 65 live alone. Sometimes this is due to the loss of a spouse, driving cessation, retirement, or limited mobility. Whatever the reason, many seniors are facing feelings of isolation or loneliness. Visiting Angels® Sarasota FL provides caregiver referrals to local seniors in Bradenton, Siesta Key, Long Boat Key, and other communities. Our care provider referrals connect your loved one with a compassionate caretaker who can provide companionship and aid at home.

Negative Effects of Senior Isolation

As you can guess, there can be many negative effects to living with a sense of isolation. Visiting Angels Sarasota is an experienced caregiver referral agency and we are familiar with the effects loneliness can have on seniors. Some ways isolation can affect a loved one include:

• An increased risk of mortality if acute symptoms develop and nobody is around to help.
• Seniors who are lonely or disengaged are more likely to make poor lifestyle choices.
• Feeling lonely or isolated can lead to poor mental and physical health.
• One study has found a correlation between high blood pressure and feelings of isolation.
• Loneliness has been linked to faster cognitive decline according to the University of Chicago.
• Chronic lung disease, arthritis, and depression have been linked to social isolation. 

Thankfully, Visiting Angels Sarasota can help your loved one combat feelings of isolation and depression by providing a caregiver referral. Your loved one's care provider can help them with meaningful companionship and someone to share a meal or cherished memories. Seniors look forward to visits from their personal care provider and often feel that they become "like family."

Preventing Senior Isolation with Companion Care in Sarasota

Many people underestimate the effects of senior isolation. A lot of us assume that loneliness is the biggest risk. But research has shown that, over time, isolation can have a severe impact on seniors’ emotional and physical health. Studies have linked senior isolation to a higher risk of frailty, illness, and injury. Others have shown that prolonged isolation has a similar effect on life expectancy to heavy smoking.

In Sarasota, senior companion care services are one of the best ways to safeguard against senior isolation. Companion care services are especially valuable for seniors who live by themselves without a strong local network of family and friends.

Here are five key ways that senior companion care services from Visiting Angels Sarasota can help prevent senior isolation:

1. Loneliness. When seniors live alone, it is easy to feel lonely and alienated from the outside world. This often leads to even more serious mental health concerns. Companion care can provide seniors with the social interaction they need to avoid feelings of loneliness. Care providers can help seniors get to activities such as volunteering or hobbies, where they can make connections. Social care can teach your loved one how to use social media and technology to connect with others.
2. Self-Neglect. Many isolated seniors fall into self-neglect due to poor mental health, often a result of loneliness. Others have physical health issues that make self-care difficult or impossible. Companion care means someone is there to help seniors maintain their well-being.
3. Inactivity. Sedentary lifestyles are commonplace among older adults who live alone. Without someone to do things with, seniors often spend most of their day inactive. Companion care from Visiting Angels Sarasota gives seniors a partner for favorite activities, helping seniors live more active lifestyles. Caregivers in Sarasota can help your loved one exercise and go for walks which helps combat diabetes and high blood pressure.
4. Security. Seniors who live alone are especially vulnerable to fraud and other criminal acts. Having another person with them during the day can limit their chances of being targeted or give them someone to turn to in situations that don’t feel safe.
5. Health. Sarasota seniors who receive companion care services often find it’s much easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle with help from their caregiver. Providing transportation to help seniors get out of the house and meet up with friends or family.
   
   

Preventing Falls with Companion Care in Sarasota

As your loved ones grow older, one issue to consider is fall prevention. Falls are very common for seniors and can be painful, seriously debilitating, and costly. They can result in injury or even worse. Sadly, falls are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and 75% of them occur to our aging population. Help your loved one to move around safely in their own home. With regular companion care and other prevention techniques, your family member will be able to move around more easily in their own home. At Visiting Angels® Sarasota, we provide companion care referrals to families in Bradenton, Sarasota, Long Boat Key, and Siesta Key.   

Tips for Fall Prevention in Sarasota

You may be wondering: What can you do to help prevent your loved one from falling? While one solution in Sarasota is companion care, here are some other tips for preventing falls:

• Install mobility support. Railings around your loved one’s bed can help to ensure that they don’t fall out of bed at night. Railings or other mobility support around staircases and even regular walls in their home can help, too. Mobility aids in the shower and around the toilet can prevent falls in the bathroom.
• Remove clutter and other obstacles. A clear, obstacle-free path through your loved one’s home is essential. Walk around the rooms of their home, removing clutter from the floors and making sure they don’t have to constantly navigate around furniture to get to the bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom.
• Choose assistive devices. A walker or cane can help your loved one move around inside of their home and outside of it. Consider choosing one of these devices to help your loved one move with ease.

How Sarasota Senior Companion Care Can Help

When it comes to fall prevention, there’s an easier way. Consistent companion care in Sarasota can ensure your loved one has mobility support on hand. Their companion won’t simply help them move around the home and neighborhood. They can also complete tasks such as grocery shopping or errand-running, so your loved one won’t have to worry. A caregiver can provide simple housekeeping support, making sure your loved one’s home is free from clutter and obstacles. They can also monitor your family member’s situation, and let you know if their condition deteriorates.

Contact Visiting Angels Sarasota

If you have an elderly parent or family member whom you worry spends too much time alone in Sarasota, Bradenton, Long Boat Key, Siesta Key, or another nearby area, Visiting Angels Sarasota can help you find companion care services from skilled local caregivers. Call us today to learn more about our caregiver referral services for senior care in Siesta Key or home care in Longboat Key and to schedule a free care assessment for your loved one.

Let’s help your loved one live with ease, through companion care in Sarasota.

"I work out of the  country  on  a regular  basis  and I needed special  care  for  my dad  who  suffers  from  Dementia .I contacted  Visiting  Angels  and spoke with Josephine . I was blown away with the  care my Dad received from Josephine and her team. Every time I called either Josephine or JerryMarie were there to answer all my questions. I would highly recommend Josephine to anybody looking for care for their loved ones.She is the most caring person I ever came across."

– Owen M. (More reviews here)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐