Why Aren’t Nursing Homes or Senior Living Communities Good Solutions to Loneliness? 

You don’t want your elderly parent or loved one to be lonely. Not only is it a negative feeling, but it also comes with a host of well-known negative effects. It seems to contribute to higher rates of physical and mental health problems, as well as being linked with a greater risk of all-cause mortality. People who report higher levels of loneliness don’t sleep as well, and show a faster decline in their cognitive and physical capabilities as they age. 

Loneliness isn’t just about the number of people that someone encounters during the day. It’s about particular relationships, and the quality of those relationships. In addition, there are factors other than loneliness to consider when it comes to your parents’ or loved ones’ care. Here are three reasons why a nursing home or senior living might not be a good idea. 

1. Many Adults Prefer to “Age in Place.” 

Many older adults have lived in the same place for many years. Not only are their homes comfortable, but they have had time to make them their own. Aging in place is generally good for people. It allows for greater independence, as well as helping them to maintain a sense of identity. 

2. Institutional Living Might Not Meet Their Needs. 

There’s more than one type of loneliness, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. If your loved one is lonely because they don’t get to see their friends or family members often, moving them to a senior community or nursing home won’t solve the problem.

3. Institutional Care Can Increase Health Risks

The very nature of institutions, with many people living in close quarters, lends itself to risks from infectious disease.  As was very evident with COVID-19 in 2020, infectious and even deadly diseases can spread rapidly in spite of containment efforts. While being around more people could help with loneliness in some cases, it could also present its own health risk. 

When our parents or loved ones experience loneliness it might come with an added side-effect – guilt. As family caregivers, it’s difficult not to feel like we have failed if our parent is lonely. We must just not be doing a good enough job. On the other hand, we often have our own busy lives to attend to – careers that pay the bills, and often children to tend and nurture. In this situation, a senior living community might seem like a great solution to the problem of loneliness in an elderly adult. It turns out, however, that for many older adults, nursing homes or senior living aren’t a great fit. 

What’s the alternative? 

One alternative for family caregivers who can’t meet all of their loved one’s physical and social needs is to arrange for in-home personal care. Home health aides can tend to an elderly person’s functional needs, while also providing a consistent, compassionate, warm source of social interaction. In addition to providing direct social interaction, a home health aide can help facilitate other social encounters by aiding in transportation or helping prepare their patients home for guests. 

Changing Your Job Description

One of the best parts of hiring a home health aide for your parent or loved one is that you can resign parts of the role of caregiver, and concentrate more on being family. When you don’t have to worry about as much of their physical care, it’s easier to also spend time just relaxing and connecting, or bringing the grandkids over for a visit. 

Family Choice Healthcare

At Family Choice Healthcare (FCH) we have been helping families design personalized in-home care for their loved ones since 1986. We are dedicated to helping people age in their own homes with independence, dignity, and joy. If you’d like to talk to someone at FCH about how we could help you address your parent or loved one’s loneline, please contact us. We’d be glad to help.