Loneliness can have a negative impact on cognitive health. In fact, feeling this emotion too often may increase the odds of developing Alzheimer’s. Here are a few connections between feeling lonely and the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Reduces Intellectual Stimulation
Being isolated decreases intellectual stimulation, which can also reduce memory skills. Without stimulation, the connections between the brain cells can be altered. To prevent social isolation, learn what’s causing your senior loved one to socially withdraw from family and friends and figure out how to rectify the situation. For instance, if your loved one is embarrassed to be around others due to limited mobility, consider ordering mobility aids and hiring a caregiver to help with daily activities.
A home caregiver can be a wonderful companion for your loved one. Home care service agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Causes Stress
Lonely seniors often become depressed and stressed, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s. As a result of being lonely, your loved one’s stress hormone levels may increase, even if he or she is relaxing. Stress triggers a degenerative process in the brain, which can lead to Alzheimer’s. To prevent this degeneration, take your loved one out into the community to interact with other people. A good social network can reduce the risk of becoming stressed because of loneliness.
If your loved one is socially isolated and you have concerns about his or her cognitive health, consider hiring a compassionate home caregiver. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Arlington families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Lowers Brain Reserve
Loneliness can also impact brain reserve. When the brain reserve is lowered, cognitive function and memory can be affected. Your loved one can prevent this by volunteering in the community, getting a pet, hiring an Alzheimer’s caregiver for mental and social stimulation, joining a senior group, or moving in with a family member.
Leads to Disconnection
Losing friends or family could cause your loved one to disconnect from the world, resulting in a deep despair that causes memory loss. The longer your loved one is disconnected, the more he or she may forget what it’s like to build relationships and maintain them. This type of forgetfulness can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. To prevent this, encourage your loved one to hold on to memories of past relationships, but explain it’s equally important to build new friendships and memories.
For families living in Arlington, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. If you need compassionate professional care for your loved one, call one of our friendly Care Managers today.
