While it’s not uncommon for everyone to feel a bit lonely at some point in their life, consistent feelings of loneliness can overtake a person and negatively impact their daily living, leading to worsening mental, physical, and spiritual health. In the winter months, it’s often much easier to be overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, especially for many seniors who are living independently without other family members or friends nearby.
What Leads to Increased Loneliness in Seniors During the Winter months
Winter brings with it some inevitable traits that can increase a person’s loneliness.
- Less daylight. Shorter days mean several things, especially for seniors. Less daylight might directly result in fewer activities that your senior can do because she is no longer comfortable driving after dark. She might find she has to turn down a lot of invites because they happen at night and she doesn’t have a way to get there and back safely.
- Less sunshine. Sunlight brings life and energy to everyone but in the winter the weather makes enjoying the sun much more difficult. Some parts of the country have excessively cloudy days for weeks on end while others have such frigid temps, making it not safe to be outside.
- Cold temps. Even if your loved one can get out at night, the colder temperatures can make it dangerous. Cars have more issues in the cold, events are canceled due to the cold, and keeping safe in extreme cold can be very difficult.
- Symptoms Your Loved One May be Lonely, Even if She Says She’s Fine
Some people need more people in their lives than others, so keep your loved one’s natural temperament in mind when trying to discern if she is feeling lonely or not.
Some key symptoms of loneliness you might notice are: - She complains about being tired all of the time.
- Expressing that she has nothing to look forward to.
- A lack of connection with others that she feels close to like friends, a spouse, or friends
- A sudden change in companionship such as the passing of a spouse or a dear friend moving too far away to connect with regularly
- She expresses thoughts that no one would miss her if she was gone or she feels no one cares for her (or she says you are the only one who cares).
- She feels a general sense of malaise or illness without any specific symptoms.
- Companion Care at Home Providers Can Combat Feelings of Loneliness
While there are many great ways for your loved one to get out and enjoy the company of others during nice weather, in the winter months, it can be especially difficult for many elderly individuals to enjoy those activities. Cold weather, short days, and mobility issues can all cause your loved one to stay inside more often to stay safe and healthy. Companion care at home providers will come directly to your loved one’s home to spend some quality time with her. What they do is completely up to them. Your loved one might like to play games with her companion care at home provider, bake up some sweet treats together in the kitchen, or simply sit with a warm cup of cocoa and talk about the weather. Simply having someone visit to provide companion care at home can lift your loved one’s spirits and chase away those feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering companion care at home in Littleton, CO please contact the caring staff at FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver today at (303) 953-9575 FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver provides exceptional
home care for seniors in Denver, Littleton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Centennial, Greenwood
Village, Aurora and surrounding areas.