Someone once said that watching your child grow up and your parents grow old are the slowest heartbreaks ever! This is a bittersweet journey that can fill your heart with wonder and pain. Where there is pride in seeing their resilience, but also a quiet ache as we begin to notice our elder’s slower steps, longer pauses, and the weight of loneliness that tends to settle in.
We always thought that our elders were kind of invincible, but as they grow old, we start witnessing their days get a little too quiet and a little too empty. It could be due to the loss of a spouse, mobility issues or any other factor.
However, it doesn’t have to be so grim and dark because there are so many ways in which you can help your elders embrace this new stage of life with a lot of support, love, compassion and understanding.
In light of all the technological advances and the advent of social media and smartphones, staying in touch has become easier. In this blog, we will touch upon the best ways in which we can harness the power of technology with the help of GenWise to help our elders navigate this stage effectively.
Elders often experience a lack of companionship which leads to feelings of loneliness. It can start adversely affecting their physical and mental health.
Here, we have listed 5 ways to get rid of lonely feelings and help our elders enjoy a sense of camaraderie with like-minded people.
It is no secret that communication is the best form of therapy when it comes without any judgment or criticism. With elders, listening can go a long way in making them feel more valued and validated. Our elders become libraries of priceless stories and wisdom. When you take some time out from your routine for them and listen to what they have to say, it can work wonders for you and them. Besides being a cathartic outlet for them, it will also help you learn from your elders and imbibe the best of their perspectives.
With the advent of technology, you can do so without staying physically close to them as you can avail the benefits of online chats and video calls.
Technology may feel intimidating at first for elders, but there are many elder-friendly and safe apps to help with loneliness such as GenWise. You can teach your ageing parents to use them. These applications are designed to offer virtual companionship and also feature engaging activities and thoughtful exercises. Apps like GenWise can be very helpful app for elders & senior citizens.
It can help your elders join various online communities, encouraging meaningful connections from home. The whole idea of teaching your parents to use these applications feels like a circle of life where you handhold your elders to tread through this new phase of your life.
There is something so magical and enriching about the bond between grandchildren and grandparents. This connection helps little children pick on elders’ wisdom and life lessons, whereas parents can enjoy the playful energy of youngsters.
Engaging in simple activities like storytelling, playing games, and learning simple things can strengthen the emotional bond between young family members and dissipate loneliness altogether.
An active mind can be a powerful antidote for loneliness. For this, you can help your parents join a club for senior citizens. By motivating your elders to enrol in these communities, you can enhance their social skills and engagement. Lack of mobility can sometimes make it uncomfortable for elders to leave home. Online clubs for senior citizens can help them easily make connections with people while improving their social interactions and foster a sense of belonging. This will instil vigour in their hearts while giving them hope for a happy future.
Age is no bar when it comes to learning something new. Encourage your parents to take up a hobby. They can pick something that excites them or rekindles an old passion. From joining a knitting club to playing tambola, quizzes, and ludo or connecting with local communities at GenWise online events, there is a lot that can be done and explored.
When ageing members of your family start isolating themselves or complain of feeling lonely, we understand that it can break your heart. But there are so many ways in which you can actually help them.
This is where GenWise comes into the picture, which is India’s largest club for elders and senior citizens. Our mission is to extend the love which we have received from our parents in the best way possible. By joining the club, elders who feel lonely can get a Saathi, a friend with whom they can talk anytime to get emotional support. Furthermore, they can even participate in various events, connect with like-minded people, watch specialised videos and consult with astrologers. So join GenWise today and help your ageing parents override their lonely phase! Because while ageing is inevitable, loneliness doesn’t have to be!
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The best way to deal with parents’ loneliness is to communicate and listen to them. You can also help them pursue interesting hobbies or activities that can keep them entertained, invested and happy.
Staying in touch with loved ones is the best cure for loneliness in old age. It helps foster emotional connection, making the elderly members feel cherished.
A change in social connections, mostly shrinking social circles, is one of the most common causes of loneliness in ageing parents. In addition to this, impaired mobility, health conditions and generational gap with younger members of the family can also strike a lonely feeling.
Improving social interactions and keeping themselves physically (as much as possible) and mentally active can help elderly parents combat loneliness. It also helps keep negative thoughts and feelings of anxiety at bay.
