How PSWs Provide Companionship for Seniors
We are social people. From birth, we thrive around people, especially family members. One group frequently faces loneliness, threatening to send them into depression. That group is senior citizens. They struggle with spouses, family, and friends passing away, making their circle smaller and smaller. If they struggle with mobility issues, they may not be able to go out and meet new people. Even as your parent’s caregiver, you are stretched for time to tend to their needs, especially if they require specific services. Combat elderly loneliness by bringing in elder care professionals who can offer companionship, among other benefits.
Elder Care Professionals Offer Enriching Companionship
We all need a little help in our day from time to time. Seniors are no different. When you hire a personal support worker (PSW) to aid your loved one, you are providing them with an opportunity to live independently and fully. Here are four ways a PSW provides companionship:
- Keeping routines alive. A daily routine keeps your senior engaged with life. A PSW provides support with bathing, hygiene, cooking, and light housework. They can even assist with before-bed patterns.
- Having conversations. Some seniors like to talk and share stories of their childhood or discuss the news. They want to feel listened to, but you may not have time to listen. That is where an in-home caregiver can fill in. They can ask engaging questions, laugh at jokes, and lend a listening ear. The interaction is beneficial for keeping the brain sharp.
- Playing games. Keeping the mind sharp can be facilitated through playing games. Older adults who play games and solve puzzles, stimulate their brains, which is a good thing. Games and puzzles are more fun with another person. Having a senior companion available to play checkers, gin rummy, or work on a jigsaw puzzle eases your already booked schedule.
- Sharing meals. A fundamental form of companionship is eating with others. It is part of humankind. Older adults often eat alone, which is not beneficial to their mental well-being and leads to loneliness. Eating alone may lead to poor nutrition also. A personal support worker can help prepare and cook a nutritious meal and then sit and enjoy breaking bread together.
Personal Support Workers Bring Joy to Lonely Seniors
Feeling connected is crucial to the mental health and well-being of senior citizens. They need to know they are making a difference and being listened to. The staff at Home Instead Hamilton stands ready to ensure your mother, father, or other elderly loved one doesn’t have to suffer from loneliness. We are happy to have conversations, play games, and share a meal. Look to us for a myriad of services to enhance your senior’s life, including cooking for seniors, personal care assistance, bathing assistance, light housekeeping, and dementia care. We will tailor our home care services to fit every client’s needs, ensuring they get the support they require and deserve. Contact us today for more information.
Call us at (905) 521-5500 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver daily to families in Hamilton Mountain, Downtown Hamilton, Rosedale, Kings Forest, Binbrook, Meadowlands, Ancaster, and Dundas.