Loneliness in the Elderly

After more than 40 years, my childhood friend and I reconnected several years ago and were amazed to find that we fell back into step after all of those years. Our common connection: caregiving.

Loneliness is an unfortunate byproduct of caregiving that exacts an emotional toll and can jeopardize one’s physical health. Take these steps to combat isolation and nurture your relationships while caregiving.

Isolation and loss are two side effects of aging that can negatively impact one’s physical and mental health. Discover how to help lonely seniors reengage with their surroundings and pursue meaningful social connections.

With self-isolating as the new normal, your aging parent may be missing their usual social interactions and activities. We’ve compiled a list of online resources to help keep the mind and body busy during the coronavirus outbreak.

Grief is an inescapable part of caregiving. We mourn an aging loved one’s physical and cognitive losses as they decline and eventually mourn their death. Self-care is vital to a caregiver’s physical and mental health throughout the grieving process.

Animals make wonderful companions for aging individuals. Use these pointers to ensure a senior is up for pet ownership in order to match them with the perfect new furry friend.

Those who are caring for a loved one, including home health aides, registered nurses and social workers, witness some of the patient's most vulnerable moments. These are a few essential points professionals may see that could easily fly under the radar for family members, friends or even a routine checkup.

A healthy sex life is important for all adults, and becomes even more essential as a person gets older, but sexually active seniors aren't often offered enough educational or emotional support from the elder care facilities where they live or society in general.

Pets provide much-needed companionship to people of all ages, especially seniors. But when elderly pet owners find themselves unable to take care of their animals, rehoming is often the best course of action.

Elderly hoarding is something that most family caregivers do not anticipate having to deal with. This behavior often increases with age and creates a hazardous living environment for older adults. Take these 5 steps to help a senior who hoards.

Negative thoughts are a normal reaction to stressful situations. Instead of feeling guilty, caregivers must acknowledge these difficult feelings and seek out solutions to achieve a better care experience for themselves and their loved ones.

If a senior’s abilities have waned, it can be challenging to find ways to adapt or replace the pastimes they once loved. In some cases, there is no encouraging or convincing an elderly loved one to remain active.

Owning a pet can bring elders a tremendous amount of joy and a renewed sense of purpose. No matter the type of animal, pets can have a beneficial impact on both an older adult’s mental and physical health.

Isolation is an unfortunately common side effect of being a family caregiver. Youth caregivers are especially vulnerable to feeling like they are all alone in their struggle. But there are ways these caregivers can connect with and support each other

Loneliness may be more dangerous to our health than being overweight. It increases risk of death by 14 percent. It disrupts sleep and increases inflammation. Luckily, there are things we can do about it.

In a society where the topic of Alzheimer's is still taboo, we may need an "Alzheimer's Anonymous" to encourage thoughtful dialogue about the disease.

The holidays should be merry and bright, but many elders feel increasingly isolated and unhappy this time of year. Use these tips to brighten up an aging loved one’s winter season.

Some people anticipate aging alone without family, while others find their plans upended by divorce, estrangement or death. Preparing for the possibility of being a solo ager requires extra effort but will prevent unnecessary hardships and stress.

Family caregivers share their best self-care tips, pieces of wisdom and words of encouragement for peers who are caring for aging loved ones (and themselves) while coping with the coronavirus pandemic.

Family caregivers face difficult emotional and logistical challenges while caring for aging and ill loved ones. You’ve probably heard the suggestion to seek out a caregiver support group, but what exactly does that entail and is it a good fit for you?