Elderly who live alone?

Question

Can you please suggest what we can do to make old people who are living alone feel happier? Please suggest something original.

Thanks

Answer 1

Here we go again!   I am 67 years young, disabled, cannot go anywhere by myself, but I enjoy my solitude.  There are days when I wish someone would stop by, and then there are days that I wish no one had shown up.

I have a nurse (twice a week) an aide - 3 times a week and a physical therapist 3 times a week - so for someone who lives alone I can get pretty busy.   But despite my health problems I enjoy living alone and yes, I am relatively happy!   Also have many volunteers who do my shopping - clean my house and help with laundry (I prefer to do some things for myself) - and although I do not like being dependent - I do not have an option at this time in my life!  There is one thing that I would really enjoy - a good conversation with someone who has an IQ  of 100+ above room temperature!                CJ

Answer 2

I visit my grandfather as often as I can, even though he lives two hours away.  Since my grandmother died, he had become bitter and angry and it sucked because that's not the grandfather I knew.

So with the help of my family who do still live near him, we get him to go out to dinner when we visit and we have him stay with us when he visits us.  He's coming around.

As for other elderly people, I volunteered at one of our many retirement homes.  Some of the stories these folks have are amazing, it's a really good feeling to be around such nice people.

Answer 3

I would try to find a "Senior Center" close to the Senior!  Most of them offer classes, lunches and health screenings.  My client loves going to the local Senior Center, most of them offer transportation also.  The center I go to with my client just opened a "Leeza's Place", for caretakers.  I find that the social activity changes them.

Answer 4

A pet that's perhaps older and/or easy to care for. Lots of older dogs and cats need homes. And older pets are usually more docile and just want a companion to love them themselves. Or a bird, even easier. Elderly need to get out of their house. I took my 96 year old friend thrift shopping and to the dollar store. Their budget is usually so tight, so these places are great for a shopping fix. And the ladies especially need that. Try Net flics. It's only about $5. a month and the movies come to your mailbox and have a self addressed stamped envelope to return em in.  A computer, money able tho, of course. I have another friend who's 93. Grandkids bought her one, tho it sat for months because she "thought" she could never figure it out. Well, she's a whiz on it now and it feeds her human need for info. (or games, recipes, gossip, etc..) Senior centers are in lots of areas where they can get together , share meals, play bingo...tho my senior pals despise bingo..ha!

Answer 5

what makes you think all are unhappy -- i like being alone and enjoy my freedom and life style -- wish most folks would just might there own business and enjoy life half as much as me!!!

Answer 6

In my opinion, you are asking an unanswerable question. Assuming all in question have comfortable places to live and the necessities to live comfortably. there is no way to create a blanket happiness. Happiness is born of the spirit within each individual and is a personal thing, it is a choice. Some can be happy with nothing and for no apparent reason, while others are unhappy with everything and have every reason to be happy. When you can find a way to impose gladness of the spirit on all without it being their choice, your question will be answered. Yet to take away a person's free agency to choose their own way is h**l.

Answer 7

If you want to make me happy, then leave me alone!  I live alone because I ENJOY it.  I don't like it when people bother me.  I have a telephone that I can use if I need help.  

Answer 8

I like living alone. A person can live in a house full of people and still feel alone. There is a differants between being alone or lonely

Answer 9

Some elderly like to be alone so they don't have to put up with the bustle of today. And they are happy.  Why does everyone feel the elderly are not happy just because theylive alone?

Answer 10

I'm old, 63 and I would like to live alone sometimes. With no health problems nagging me and not too many Senior Moments I know I would be fine and just love it! Hubby would like living alone sometimes too, especially when I get upset and start having hisses fits (hello spell check). It's his fault, he ask me to marry him!    Poppy

Answer 11

Keep the mind busy. Don't let it be idle for a second or it will wander off on things that... well.... are best not gone over and over.... like the warmth of yesteryear and bygone times. Generally hobbies can do this and you might seek to pursue facilitating whatever hobby the individual wanted.

Answer 12

It's certainly not a new idea, but it is one that I, as a Gerontologist, push as hard as I can.  Seniors who live alone need socialization and the best way to find it is to have them visit a Skilled Nursing Facility and get acquainted with other Seniors who need socialization as well. They seem to thrive when they find people on a level plane with themselves. It's most unfortunate that more Seniors don't do this, it's a great outlet for both people involved.

Let's face facts, no one wants to feel left out and alone.  This is the level playing field for both the Senior that lives alone and the Senior that lives in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Many of each do not have relatives that visit. This is positive socialization.

Answer 13

You can visit them as much as possible, provide them with your help whenever they need you, tell them to be free to call you whenever they feel like it, buy them some presents, show them your love and care! They need to be loved and not to feel useless! In addition, you could read this and get some ideas about what you can do to convince them not to be or feel lonely:

http://seniors-site.com/widowm/lonely.ht...

Hope i helped!