March 11, 2011

THE SNOW IS MELTING AND THE SENIORS WHO SPENT THE WHOLE WINTER IN DOORS MAY BE LOOKING TO THEIR SENIOR CENTERS FOR SOME RELIEF FROM THE WINTER BLUES

By Carol Carbutti

Senior centers offer independence for aging adults and play a very important role in the lives of our elderly parents today. But most of all, senior centers allow seniors to become and remain social.

Getting out of the house and making new friends can prevent in home seniors with depression. Now many parents will not want to go to the senior center since many shy away from something new.  What we can do to make it easier for them is to go along for the day to introduce them to this new environment and then afterwards take them out for lunch. Any aging adult who is 60 years old or older can join a senior center. While you are there you can check all the events a senior center has to offer that mom or dad might be interested in.  Family caregivers will feel less stress and anxiety knowing that mom and dad are not home alone all the time. The most important thing is to encourage your parents to look forward to going out a few times a week.

Senior centers allow seniors to develop a social network. They can make and meet new friends. Senior centers offer programs and services like crafts, bingo, fitness, dance classes, travel to theatres, daily meals, birthday luncheons and more. All you have to do is check the senior center calendar that is usually published monthly.  This will allow your aging parents to pick and choose their daily activities or programs. If they show an interest in the centers activities, all you need to do is sign them up.  They can start by going once or twice a week.  This will prevent them from feeling pressured.  Soon you will notice that mom or dad will be visiting the senior center on a daily basis. The conversations you have now will be about all the fun things they did and the people they met. They will not have time to watch television at all.

I feel seniors centers are the best thing around for seniors today. They allow our parents to keep in touch with their peers and feel important and independent as well as give meaning to their lives. For information on a senior center near you contact your local township.

 

This story is from the office of Comfort Keepers, a non-medical in home caregiving agency of senior citizens of Wallingford, New Haven, Hamden (Zip Code 06514), North Haven, Cheshire, Durham, Middlefield, Middletown, Meriden, Waterbury, Southington, Kensington, Berlin, Newington, New Britain, And Bristol.  Carol Carbutti, the owner/manager, would like to mention that we could help seniors stay living independently in their own home by providing services for as few as 3 hours weekly to live in care.  If you have any questions please call (203) 697-1030 or email us at denisegryzbek@comfortkeepers.com

 

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