Whether your senior loved one writes letters to a student in his or her community or emails another older adult who lives overseas, having a pen pal provides a wonderful opportunity to expand his or her social circle. Here’s how this type of social connection can positively impact your loved one’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
Wards Off Loneliness
Seniors who live alone run the risk of experiencing the effects of social isolation. Although nothing can replace frequent visits from friends, family, and caregivers, receiving and writing letters and emails can fill in the gaps. When your loved one has a pen pal, he or she can look forward to the exciting surprise of hearing from someone at any time of the day.
Strong social ties are essential for a senior’s wellbeing. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Provides a Different Perspective
Today’s seniors thrive on learning more about the world around them, and no one wants to become too set in their ways. For this reason, many older adults prefer pen pals who come from different backgrounds. Through emails and letters, your loved one can trade stories and information with someone who offers a wider view of the world and takes his or her mind off personal problems.
Strengthens Communication Skills
Reading and writing are critical for helping seniors retain their cognitive abilities. As your loved one writes letters, he or she can strengthen memory skills while recalling a story or searching for the perfect word to use. Seniors who have difficulty with oral language may also find the process of writing to pen pals much more comfortable because it makes communication easier.
If your loved one needs regular social stimulation, consider hiring a caregiver. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Oakville, ON, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
Builds Self-Confidence
Making new friends can be intimidating at any age, and seniors sometimes have a lack of confidence after retiring. However, opening up to a pen pal can provide a renewed sense of purpose. When your loved one knows someone is looking forward to receiving his or her letters and will send positive responses, he or she can wake up excited to see what each new message will bring.
Leads to Developing New Interests
Seniors can easily become bored when they don’t have enough activities to fill their free time. Having a pen pal provides the chance to learn about new ideas, opinions, and activities that others enjoy. Exposure to new concepts offers the chance to spark different interests. Depending on where their pen pals live, the correspondence may enable older adults to learn about new cultures and traditions.
Boosts Physical Health
Seniors with arthritis are often advised to engage in moderate exercise to alleviate the stiffness in their hands. Handwriting and typing require fine motor skills and joint movements, which increase dexterity while alleviating arthritis symptoms. Knowing a pen pal looks forward to hearing from them may create a sense of importance and make seniors more likely to take care of their health.
Social interaction is essential for older adults, whether it comes from connecting with a pen pal or getting a visit from a compassionate caregiver. The type of senior care Oakville, ON, seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Home Care Assistance, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (905) 337-1200.