Are you caring for an elderly loved one? Are you concerned about feelings of loneliness? You’ll be glad to know that there are many excellent ways to reduce loneliness in older age, many of which are available in Lancashire.
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is an emotional state which can affect people at any age or stage of their life. It can be challenging to deal with, and many people feel unable to seek support for it.
In most cases, it is a feeling of being alone or disconnected from the local community, and it can arise as a result of retiring, losing a loved one, mobility issues or declining health. Loneliness is nothing to be embarrassed about, and it’s important to do what you can to bridge the emotional gaps that you feel.
How does loneliness impact people?
As we age, loneliness can have a greater impact on our health. It affects people mentally, physically and cognitively.
Mentally, it can make people more susceptible to mental health conditions, including a higher risk of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.
It can affect physical health by causing higher blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, weakened immune system, obesity, and other conditions.
It is estimated that 1 in 11 people over 65 is living with dementia. Increased loneliness can also be linked to a faster cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. By encouraging your loved one to remain independent, you can reduce the risk of social isolation and improve their well-being.
Loneliness affects people in everyday life, causing changes to eating habits, sleep patterns and even how often they exercise.
How can you reduce loneliness?
Reducing loneliness takes time. For some people in later life, even being in a room full of people can feel lonely in the beginning.
Be-friending
At Regenerage, we offer a befriending service to combat loneliness. This involves carefully matching up an older person with someone who has spare time each week to offer guidance and support. This service is completely free and is just one of the ways that we support older people in Lancashire to live and age well.
The service is available via the telephone or in-person visits and allows older adults to have a true companion. Having this interaction weekly can enhance quality of life, help them meet new friends, and combat social isolation and loneliness.
Find out more about our befriending services and how to apply here.
We are extremely grateful to our volunteers who help us raise awareness and engage with our service users. Support us in our mission of tackling loneliness in older people.
Community activities & groups
Regenerage runs three activity centres located around Lancashire. These activity centres are designed to support over 55s, those living with memory loss and also those living with dementia.
These activity centres provide a safe, bright and comfortable environment for people who need it, allowing carers time to complete life admin or continue working. Those attending our centres can enjoy a wide range of activities, including:
- Creative arts and crafts
- Woodwork
- Quizzes
- Music and dancing
- Sewing, knitting and crocheting
- Exercise and relaxation
- Gardening
- Seasonal projects
Our supportive team is here to put a smile on your loved one’s face, reduce loneliness and boost their emotional well-being. Completing tasks also helps loved ones to live fulfilled lives and enables them to enjoy the local community.
Check out our activity centres in the local community:
- Charnley Fold Activity Day Centre, Bamber Bridge
- Withy Trees Activity Day Centre, Fulwood
- Lostock Hall Activity Centre
Being around people can significantly improve the well-being of your loved one. They will be able to meet new people and develop new skills in a caring environment.
Our day centres are open Monday to Friday, and we have free taster sessions available too.
Are you searching for support with loneliness for an older person in Lancashire? Look no further than Regenerage. We are proud to support older people with befriending, activity centres and even financial services.
Contact us today to find out more about our services and how we can support your loved one. We will be more than happy to help.
