Forget the chocolates and flowers…
Give the gift of companionship!
If you’re heading home to see Mom this Mother’s Day, you may notice that she’s lost her usual spark. Is it just the aging process, or is mom feeling the blues because she’s lonely? A recently released health and retirement study* found that loneliness and isolation can increase depression, stress, raise blood pressure and lead to premature death.
That’s why this Mother’s Day, SYNERGY HomeCare, a national non-medical in-home care company with offices across the US, urges local families to hire an in-home caregiver to keep Mom active and socially engaged.
“We’re experiencing a silver tsunami with over 10,000 people turning 65 each day,” says Richard Basch, President of SYNERGY HomeCare. “Families are so busy these days, they simply may not have the time to ensure that Mom is receiving the social and mental stimulation she needs. Our caregivers do a wonderful job of keeping our clients entertained; whether it’s taking them to the grocery store, the movies or just playing cards or going on walks. We keep seniors active so they feel engaged and valued. Seniors who get out of the house and have close connections with other people are happier, healthier and live, more fulfilling lives.”
Diane Hired Her Mom “A Friend”
Diane Franciose hasn’t seen her mother this happy in a long time. Her mother, 91-year-old Lorraine, has been hospitalized for depression eight times. Diane, a teacher, couldn’t give up her job or move her Mom into her home, so she decided to hire a caregiver from SYNERGY HomeCare. The companionship helped lift Lorraine’s spirits, and she went from being wheelchair bound to outward-bound!
“Our caregiver takes such good care of my mom,” says Diane. “They are buddies. They go everywhere together – to the movies, to local art festivals, to the grocery store. My Mom is happy and animated again. Hiring a companion for my Mom has changed all of our lives.”
Loneliness Study Findings:
- Having high quality relationships is one of the keys to happiness and longevity.
- Loneliness can lead to less restful, restorative sleep, high blood pressure, stress, depression and negative thoughts and feelings.
- The stresses and challenges of life are more easily endured if we share them with someone in whom we can confide and trust.
- People who feel lonely have a 14 percent higher risk of premature death than those who don’t feel lonely.
- The impact of loneliness is almost as significant as the impact of poverty, which increases the chances of premature death by 19 percent.
“We work with thousands of families, and so often they feel guilty because they can’t spend enough quality time with their parents,” says Basch. “Our caregivers can help to ease that burden, and in fact, our caregivers often become a key element of the family unit.”
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