Preventing Social Withdrawal in Seniors in Zanesville, OH
According to Michigan Medicine, one in three older adults experiences loneliness and isolation. Feelings of loneliness were higher in seniors who reported fair or poor health. Social withdrawal can cause your mental and physical health to decline.
Moving into a Zanesville, OH, senior living community can keep you engaged. You can discover healthy aging strategies and community engagement for seniors.
How can a senior living community prevent social isolation? Read on to learn more!
Dangers of Social Withdrawal
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four US adults reports not having social and emotional support. Factors that can increase your risk of loneliness and social isolation include:
- Having a long-term disability
- Language barriers
- Limited transportation
- Living in rural areas
- Facing unemployment or divorce
- Navigating grief after losing a loved one
- Having a chronic disease or condition
- Being marginalized or discriminated against
- Having a psychiatric or depression condition
Social isolation can pose a health risk. Here are some dangers of social withdrawal.
Reduced Physical Health
Social isolation and loneliness may increase your risk of:
- Cognitive decline
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Suicidality and self-harm
- Earlier death
- Alzheimer's disease
- A weakened immune system
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
Loneliness may cause stress, which can weaken your immune system. Low immune system function can increase your risk of developing a chronic disease.
Having strong relationships and engaging in productive activities can give you a sense of purpose. It could improve your mood and quality of life. Your stress levels will decline, which may help increase your longevity.
Impaired Cognitive Performance
According to this study, lonely seniors are more likely to develop dementia than their peers. Seniors who are lonely or isolated often perform worse on tests that assess thinking abilities. Loneliness and depression may reduce your cognitive function over time.
Loneliness may contribute to cognitive decline through:
- Symptoms of depression
- Cognitive decline
- Poor sleep
- Inflammation
- Increased blood pressure
Loneliness may increase your risk of developing dementia by 20%. It has a similar effect to dementia risk factors, including:
- Hearing loss
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
Loneliness may cause tau and beta-amyloid proteins to build up in the brain. These brain changes are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Engaging with other seniors, on the other hand, can keep your mind active. Socializing could encourage new neural pathways to form, which can keep your mind sharp.
Chronic Stress
Loneliness can trigger the body's stress responses. Chronic stress can cause:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Frequent infections
- Weight gain or loss
- Fever
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.)
Prolonged stress is also associated with chronic conditions, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc.)
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Lung diseases
- Mental health conditions
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Certain cancers
Engaging in senior social activities may help ease stress. You can find other stress-relieving activities through your senior living community's lifestyle programs.
Community Engagement for Seniors
Your Zanesville senior living community can help you avoid social withdrawal. Here are some ways they offer community engagement for seniors.
Senior Social Activities
Explore your senior living community's events and activities calendar. You can enjoy fun activities with other seniors, including:
- Art classes
- Cooking lessons
- Bingo nights
- Pet therapy
- Dance classes
- Walking clubs
- Book or film clubs
- Gardening clubs
- Quilting, crocheting, or knitting
- Sculpting
- Music lessons
Engaging in these activities and learning new skills can help the mind form new neural pathways. This could slow cognitive decline. Keeping your mind sharp can improve your functionality, allowing you to maintain your independence.
Developing new skills can boost your self-esteem and confidence. It may improve your mood and outlook on life.
Consider volunteering in Zanesville. Volunteering can give you a sense of belonging and purpose. It's a great way to forge new social connections.
Volunteering may help:
- Improve your self-confidence
- Teach you new skills
- Reduce stress
- Ease feelings of anxiety and depression
- Relieve anger
- Extend your support group
- Help you meet people with common interests
Healthy Aging Strategies
Moving into a senior living community can help you discover healthy aging strategies. You can prioritize your mental and physical health alongside other seniors.
Ask your new friends to join you for meals. Eating together can make mealtimes more enjoyable.
Eating with friends may encourage you to make healthier food decisions. You can discover healthy, nutritious dishes through your senior living community's dining program.
Check your senior living community's fitness program for workout classes. Their presence may encourage you to attend regularly. Popular classes include:
- Swimming
- Strength training
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Walking clubs
- Water aerobics
- Meditation
Exercising regularly can boost serotonin production. This neurotransmitter can improve your mood.
Regular exercise can also improve your strength and relieve chronic pain. It may help you maintain your independence as you age. Other benefits of exercising include:
- Reduced stress
- Lower risk of certain cancers
- Stronger bones
- Reduced risk of dementia or depression
- Lower blood sugar
- Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
- Lower risk of stroke and heart disease
Emotional Support for Seniors
For emotional support, consider joining a local support group. There are groups for:
- Grief
- Chronic health conditions
- Addictions
- Coping with aging
- Depression and anxiety
Joining a support group can help you develop healthy coping skills.You can meet other seniors who understand what you're feeling.
Prioritize self-care to combat chronic stress. You can:
- Eat nutritious foods
- Schedule medical checkups
- Meditate
- Take a warm bubble bath
- Read
- Garden
- Paint
- Take a walk
- Learn something new
- Laugh
- Give back/volunteer
- Keep a gratitude journal
- Spend time with loved ones
- Start therapy
- Use deep breathing exercises
Start Combating Loneliness in Seniors
Social withdrawal can cause your mental and physical health to decline. Instead of aging alone, explore your senior living community. You can find engaging senior social activities, reducing your risk of isolation and loneliness.
Look no further for support than Clay Gardens Place Assisted Living, where you can experience homelike senior living. We'll develop a customized care plan based on your unique needs.
We help residents thrive in mind and body through our exclusive senior living programs. Enjoy educational programming, fitness classes, and engaging activities. Contact us now to schedule your tour.