Supporting Solo Seniors: Resources to Help
Nearly one-third of all seniors live by themselves, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s close to 14 million seniors aging alone. For seniors who are living alone, it may be challenging to manage some aspects of day-to-day life. If you know a senior in need of support, consider these resources.
Support Decision Making
Seniors who live alone may carry the sole burden of decisions-making about important decisions in their lives. Offer a listening ear and providing counsel can to help ease the pressure.
- Provide information on common scams that target seniors so they can be prepared.
- Talk them through making important or stressful decisions.
- Refer them to legal services programs for older Americans if needed, such as to how to set up advance directives.
Encourage Healthier Habits
People at any age, but especially seniors, benefit from healthy eating and staying active for their health. Here are a few ways to encourage better choices in the seniors in your life, while making life easier for them.
- Help combat fall risk with prevention exercises (when someone is available to supervise).
- Support healthy habits like drinking more water daily by suggesting water flavorings or gifting a water bottle.
- Check out meal delivery services for healthier meal prep without the need for extra shopping trips or expenses.
- Use a tool that combines PDFs together to digitize their medical documents and organizing them into one file.
Help Connect to Programs
Though many seniors are internet-savvy, they may not be aware of all the available programs targeted to older adults. Suggest local resources to help them identify the help they need.
- Many seniors are eligible for free or reduced-fee meals from Meals on Wheels.
- Encourage seniors to check their eligibility and help them apply for SNAP food benefits.
- For older adults who take prescription medications, check for prescription discount cards that can help cut costs.
Reaching out to seniors who are far away from family members or those without a local support network could make a significant difference in their daily lives. By offering support and a listening ear, you can help them live healthier and safer golden years.
Submitted by Andrea Needham
eldersday.org
Image courtesy of Pixabay