Humans are social beings. They found, early on, that banding together for protection and companionship was a good thing, and they thrived. It is not surprising that social distancing has stopped people in their tracks. The idea of not banding together goes against everything we were ever taught.
There is a lesson to be learned here. Older folks already know how easy it is to slip into social obscurity, but being alone because you want to is different than being alone because you have to. Today, social distancing precautions have taken that choice away, and it really sucks.
Researchers affirm that social isolation and loneliness are a deadly combination, but luckily it only takes a few minutes a day to restore “connectivity.”
Allow your children bring you into the twenty-first century. It is important to connect with family and friends, but it is difficult if you cling to old beliefs. It is up to you to reach out to the people who care about you. Classic mail and phone calls are good ways to connect, but handwriting can be hard to decipher and hearing issues can make phone calls a nightmare. Waiting two weeks for an answer to a letter, or waiting for a voice mail message to be returned, can seem an eternity if you are feeling lonely. You may find that video calls give you something to look forward to, and quick “thinking of you” text messages can brighten your day.
Socialization keeps you young, enthused, and invigorated. Without appointments, lunches, book clubs, gym classes, church or volunteer commitments, one day is pretty much like the next. It is time to think of new ways to “connect.”
• Sit out on your front porch and give passersby a wave.
• Pick up the phone and call someone
• Write letters or e-mails
• Take a break from the media and read something inspirational.
• Listen to upbeat music, watch inspiring movies, exercise, and think good thoughts.
Self-quarantine has aged us all and for a senior this is not a good thing. The good news is that you have lived through challenges before and will likely live through this one, if you can keep your spirits up.
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