Relationships and interacting with other people are such an important part of overall health, particularly for aging veterans. When seniors don’t get the social engagement they need, they first feel lonely and start to feel isolated. Being able to spend time with other people can help so much, so veteran’s care providers are an excellent possible solution for families to consider.
Social Engagement Does So Much for Overall Wellness
Most people don’t realize how much socialization does for their health in general. It can help to reduce blood pressure, boost self-esteem, reduce cortisol levels, and reduce the risk of worsening chronic health issues like heart disease. There are layers to social engagement, too.
Seniors benefit from having opportunities to engage with people they love, veteran’s care providers, neighbors, friends, and other people as well.
What Is Social Isolation?
Social isolation means that seniors don’t see many people in person. They might have phone calls with people they love, but their in-person experiences are few and far between.
Social isolation is a little deeper than just feeling lonely. When people feel lonely, they may still have social interactions, but they may not be the ones seniors want to have. With isolation, they’re having no social interactions.
Veterans with Existing Heart Issues Are at Greatest Risk
Being socially isolated affects health, particularly cardiovascular health. But if veterans already have existing heart health concerns, they’re more likely to experience further heart issues because of social isolation. Instead of increasing those risk factors, it’s much more important for aging veterans to find ways to decrease their social isolation.
Isolation Can Lead to Less Healthy Behaviors in General
Another reason that social isolation can be dangerous is that it can lead veterans to engage in behaviors that are less healthy overall. They might not eat healthy meals, for example, relying instead on highly processed foods that don’t give their bodies the nutrients they need. They could have poor sleep habits, like not getting enough sleep or even sleeping too much.
These choices make it more difficult for them to have the health outcomes they truly want to have.
Finding Solutions Might Mean Getting Creative
Finding the right answers doesn’t always mean that families follow textbook solutions. Those may not work for every veteran’s situation. Depending on their other needs, veteran’s care providers could be the perfect answer. The assistance they offer is customizable, so veterans who need a lot of help every day can get that. If they only need small amounts of assistance, they can also get that.
Throughout it all, though, they also get social interaction that they very much need.
Keeping their hearts healthy is something that aging veterans definitely need to think about consistently. Veteran’s care providers can help aging veterans meet their social needs and their hands-on needs for assistance, helping them feel better overall in multiple areas of life. That assistance can pay off richly for aging veterans, ensuring they can continue to age in place.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Veteran’s Care in Goshen, OH, please contact the caring staff at Freedom Home Care today at (513) 461-2780
Freedom Home Care Serves Veterans in Clermont County, Batavia, Amelia, Milford, New Richmond, Goshen, Bethel, Williamsburg, Loveland, Withamsville, Brown County, Felicity, Georgetown, Mount Orab, Ripley, Hamersville, Sardinia, and surrounding areas.
Our team is committed to providing the highest standard of care, ensuring that each Veteran we serve can live a dignified and independent life in the comfort of their own home. Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each Veteran, reflecting our deep commitment to their well-being.
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