Any heath episode that puts a senior in the hospital can lead to a challenging recovery. In addition to not feeling physically well, the psychological impact of realizing the precariousness of one’s health can also be significant. Staying engaged with family, friends and loved ones is important not only to the mental and emotional aspects of recovery, but can actually affect physical recovery as well.
Seniors, especially seniors who live on their own, are often socially isolated and may struggle with loneliness after transitioning out of the more active phases of their lives. For seniors already struggling with isolation and loneliness, a physical illness may only exacerbate the problem further as they are able to get out less than they were before. For those for whom their health setback is the first to significantly alter their lifestyle, it can be a shocking adjustment. The emotional and psychological impacts of this isolation can impact their physical recovery and even increase the odds that they will have to return to the hospital. It is therefore important to consider all aspects of recovery and treat the whole person – mind, body and spirit – in developing a plan for their recovery.
Senior care researchers have found that isolated seniors have higher blood pressure than other seniors, and they are more likely to require assisted living or nursing home care as a result of poorer health. Management of other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can also be impacted by loneliness and isolation, leading to a more difficult recovery from any acute health issue. Even just feeling lonely – as opposed to actually being lonely – can lead to higher rates of dementia and earlier death.
In order to aid recovery, family, friends, and home caregivers should pay particular attention to a senior’s mood and engagement level when the senior comes home from the hospital. It is extremely important for the senior to be as socially engaged as possible. Family members and friends can join the senior in participating in simple activities like enjoying a meal together or sharing in daily life activities. These types of activities are important in order to help the senior feel less isolated. As the senor recovers physically, ideally they will be able to return to much of the regular contact with friends, family and home caregivers as they had before their hospital visit. Once they are physically able to get out, family and friends should encourage their loved one to engage with them and the broader community as much as possible. It is usually most beneficial to seniors if they are able to have input in choosing the social activities they will participate in, and even help in planning them.
Seniors who have no family members living close by and who do not have a strong social network may benefit from in home care services provided by a quality home care agency. A home caregiver can give an older adult the support he or she needs to recover. The ultimate goal for many seniors who have suffered a health set back is to be able to resume many of the activities they previously enjoyed and maybe even try new ones. A home care provider can assist with these goals by removing some of the barriers to social activities, for example, by helping with transportation. Engagement in these types of activities can help the senior recover and reintegrate, increasing their overall quality of life for years to come.
