One of the greatest challenges of the elderly living in
their own home or in a residence is to socialize with friends, family or meet
new people. Isolation is a very common problem at this stage of life and
socializing in a residence can be a challenge that worries those who are
moving.
Moreover, it is not a minor issue. A study from Stanford
University concluded that lifestyle and social attitude have a greater
influence on the quality of life of the elderly than what genes could
determine.
One of the reasons an older adult chooses to live in a
nursing home is for the opportunity to socialize with peers and engage in group
activities. These programs are designed to meet personal emotional,
intellectual, spiritual, social, or vocational needs.
However, when moving to a new residence, you are often
burdened with emotional baggage (shyness, lack of confidence, low self-esteem,
lack of social experience, etc.) that can seem like an obstacle to socializing.
As in the first day of school, the "new" feels
like a stranger, or that he or she is being observed and judged, which can be
scary. Therefore, in addition to remembering how we have overcame those
situations in the past, it does not hurt to take into account these tips collected
from the David Berkowitz Chicago Nursing Home Residents.
