Many Americans are now following social distancing guidelines. However, social distancing can lead to feelings of isolation for many people. Social isolation brings with it a whole new set of problems. It can be difficult for many people to handle, and for seniors, it can even jeopardize their health.
According to a report done by the National Institute of Aging, loneliness and social isolation are likely to lead to higher blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, cognitive decline, heart disease, a weaker immune system, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and worst of all, death.
So who is at the greatest risk of social isolation and loneliness? That’s not such an easy question to answer, especially since the two aren’t necessarily linked.
Approximately 28% of older folks in the US live by themselves. Many of them do not feel isolated or lonely. On the other hand, some of them are lonely even though they have plenty of family and friends around them. These data points come from a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
What this shows is that social isolation isn’t so cut and dry. However, we do know that it’s a pervasive problem in society.
Can senior living at Sabal Palms make social distancing more bearable?
The Benefits of a Senior Living Community for Social Distancing
A well managed senior living community can have many unique advantages for residents and their family members, including support for safe socialization, enforced prevention methods, and medical monitoring of everyone in the facility.
A Senior Living Community Is a Safer Place to Be
A senior living community with a clinical team will go a long way towards ensuring your safety. A clinical team receives daily briefings from healthcare professionals and government officials. Consequently, they can keep residents well informed with the latest most accurate health information. With this information, communities can enact safety procedures that will help prevent you from getting sick. Team members will also be trained immediately in following these new protocols. Residents will have the peace of mind of knowing that they are in the best hands possible for staying protected.
Also, the most experienced and trained team members will already know how to combat and prevent viruses, and they will have the necessary protective gear for the job. They will also have access to disinfectants that can defeat even the strongest viruses like Norovirus.
You’ll Have Healthy and Delicious Meals Each Day
Many communities are still providing the same or similar (but always delicious) meals for residents. While senior living facilities used to have communal dining, they must now follow CDC guidelines for social distancing. But dining in senior living is still worth it for seniors, mainly because of the following reasons:
- many seniors can’t cook themselves and order from restaurants
- during this time, restaurants are closed
- grocery store shelves are also being emptied all around the country due to panic buying
As a result, many seniors won’t be able to get the nutrition they need when they’re living alone.
But in most senior living communities around the country, residents will have high quality cooked meals delivered right to their apartments.
You Won’t Be Bored in a Senior Living Community
Our caring team members ensure that all safety protocols and infection standards are followed. After following safety procedures, they continue to visit residents on a daily basis. During this period, people still need some human interaction, and a senior living community can fill this role nicely.
Many communities are coming up with creative solutions for keeping residents happy and occupied, including hallway bingo, happy hours, brain games, and SingFit music.
Every day our residents look forward to seeing the happy faces of our staff members, and they appreciate each interaction.
Residents Get Free Assistance With Social Media and Technology
While technology is beneficial during self-quarantine for keeping in touch with family and friends, many older people don’t have access to it in their homes.
There are many websites that can help residents stay connected to their families. Facebook and Instagram are great for allowing people to send messages to family members and friends in self-quarantine. There are also newer, less well-known options such as Facebook Watch Parties. This feature provides a means of watching an event, video, or program with your family and being able to chat with them at the same time.
In addition, churches have started to use YouTube live (or Watch Parties) to connect church members with weakened immune systems to their fellow churchgoers.
With just a little bit of setup and assistance, seniors can feel closer to their family, or feel as though they are a part of a larger community.
When searching for a senior living community, it’s essential to consider the availability of technology that will allow you to keep in touch with friends and family. Apps such as Skype and Facetime are useful for allowing residents to have long and meaningful conversations with loved ones, and to see their children and grandchildren as well. With this technology, you won’t have to miss a thing.
Top-Notch Medical Services
Even when social distancing procedures are being practiced, there’s still a chance of seniors contracting COVID-19. That’s why it’s critical for seniors to have immediate access to trained healthcare professionals. Residents are checked and monitored on a daily basis, and if the virus is contracted, it can be treated and handled quickly. By the same token, these professionals are also educated in preventing the infection from spreading to other residents.
And coming back to the theme of loneliness – our residents are much less lonely than seniors who live by themselves. In our community, there are still plenty of opportunities for safe socialization and fun activities. However, it’s just as important to have access to plentiful supplies, nutrition, and medical care, all of which can be found in our community.
COVID-19 is an enemy that is testing all of us. Join our community, and we can overcome this difficult time – together.