Caregiver in Floral Park NY
Social isolation is one of the factors about being a caregiver to your elderly loved one that can lead to caregiver stress. It’s tough to maintain the same social life that you had before now that you’re
so busy taking care of your loved one. Try some of these solutions.
Look Up Old Friends
With the popularity of social media, it’s easier and easier to find people with whom you lost touch but used to be close to. Try looking up some of your old friends and renew your friendship. If you still live in the same area, it may be possible to actually meet up in person, too. Even if you only meet for coffee a few times a month, that’s still a few more times a month than you might have otherwise.
Set Up Respite Help
One of the biggest reasons that caregivers tend to become socially isolated is that they believe that they have to be there with their loved one every minute of every day. This isn’t true, and it’s a belief that can actually be harmful for you and for your elderly loved one. Start out slowly with hiring elderly care providers who can stop by once or twice a week and then gradually increase the time you’re away from your loved one. Your goal is to be able to take care of all of your needs while still caring for your elderly loved one.
Practice Talking to New Acquaintances
If it’s been a while since you’ve met new friends, then you may need to practice meeting people. Try striking up conversations with people wherever you go. It’s easier than it sounds, and most people are okay with talking to someone they don’t know in a social situation or in a “captive situation,” such as when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, for example. The more you practice, the easier it gets.
Join a Group or a Club
When you join a club or a group, you gradually get to know the other people in the group while you do something else that you enjoy. There’s also less pressure than in a one-on-one social setting since you’re in a group. Try book clubs or even cooking classes. You’ll relieve some stress and learn new skills at the same time.
Find a Pen Pal
If you really don’t have time to go out somewhere but you want to feel less isolated, good old-fashioned letter writing may be a way to help ease your feelings of isolation. There are plenty of pen pal programs that can match you up with people all across the world. This is a particularly helpful option for someone who has to run a lot of errands or attend a lot of their own appointments away from their loved one that aren’t social in nature.
Figuring out how to do away with social isolation can make being a family caregiver a lot easier.
If you or an aging loved one are in need caregiver services in Floral Park, NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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