Having friends you can count on is important during all stages of life, but these close friendships are even more crucial for seniors because they offer a wide range of health benefits. Here are a few of those advantages.
Increases Life Expectancy
Maintaining close friendships can add years to your loved one’s life. Your loved one can get up each day ready to explore the neighborhood with his or her friends or try out new games and community events together. This desire to remain socially active can help your loved one live longer because these relationships give him or her an additional reason to look forward to new adventures in life.
Home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Staves Off Memory Loss
Contrary to what many people believe, memory loss isn’t an inevitable part of the aging process. The brain is fully capable of producing new cells at any age. However, your loved one will need to use those brain cells or lose them. Maintaining close friendships is one way your loved one can boost his or her brain function. A simple conversation, a trip to the grocery store, or a fun outing with a friend leads to mental engagement, which keeps the brain sharp and decreases the risk of memory loss.
Prevents Diabetes & Obesity
Your loved one may not be as physically active as he or she once was, and a lack of exercise can lead to obesity and diabetes. Diabetes affects seniors more than any other age group, but having close friendships can help your loved one maintain a healthier weight. Without these relationships, your loved one may become isolated and seek comfort in fatty or sugary foods due to depression. Having a network of friends can reduce the risk of depression. Your loved one and his or her friends can also take walks around the park, join aerobics classes for seniors, and enjoy other physical activities together.
Compassionate home caregivers can be a wonderful source of socialization and companionship for aging adults. If your elderly loved one needs Jefferson County live-in care, turn to Home Care Assistance. We offer a program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to focus on eating nutritious foods, exercising on a regular basis, maintaining strong social ties, and other lifestyle factors known to increase longevity.
Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among seniors. Loneliness can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, and other issues that increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. When your loved one is lonely, the stress hormone cortisol increases, which raises blood pressure levels, but having close friendships can keep your loved one social and reduce his or her stress and blood pressure.
Professional caregivers can also become close friends and trusted companions. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional at-home care. Jefferson County, CO, 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. Whether your parent needs hourly or live-in care, give us a call at (303) 987-5992 today.