Loneliness deeply affects seniors. But this is not inevitable, because today there are a host of possibilities for not staying in one’s corner. Volunteering, culture, travel… Here are 5 avenues to explore

Loneliness affects older people harder than other age groups. Several studies show that:

1 in 4 seniors lives alone,

1 out of 2 without a friendly bond,

and almost 2 out of 3 without activity to break the isolation.

With the loss of autonomy, the phenomenon can only be accentuated. If you want your loved one to keep in touch outside of your visits, follow these 5 tips.

Download the guide – 6 ideas to help without burning out

1. Involve him in an association

With the transition to retirement, your loved one has (perhaps) experienced a certain feeling of uselessness. In any case, all the specialists consider that the end of working life constitutes one of the great ruptures in the life of our elders.

Don’t let this feeling take over. Tutoring or transmission of skills, charitable or simply entertaining… Involvement in an association is a great diversion from the blues. And beyond the beneficial feeling of being useful, it allows teamwork and discussion.

2. Give him a bath of knowledge

Making your brain work and sharpening your curiosity is highly recommended at any age. But it is even more beneficial in old age. Excellent for memory, sovereign against withdrawal, culture and knowledge are real miracle cures.

And in this regard, the elderly are spoiled for choice:

Museums, performance halls and cinemas are almost all accessible to seniors at reduced prices.

Municipalities, departments and regions have set up numerous programs for access to culture for the elderly.

And even leaving the house and getting around is no longer (as much) an obstacle as before. Thanks in particular to the mobility inclusion card , a person still able to move benefits from facilities (parking, disabled places, priority on seats and queues, etc.). Useful for going out, or simply to visit friends, family…

3. Make contact easier

It’s a fact: it’s difficult today to do without new technologies. To get informed, look for useful information… or keep in touch with loved ones. Do you know a little about it? A cousin or a sister perhaps?

Spending some time with your loved one to explain the basics of e-mail, social networks and new technologies in general will in any case prove to be very useful for maintaining the link with their grandchildren, nephews, nieces, etc. .

And when the family is not available, or if the links have become loose, know that there are services such as conviviality calls. One to three times a week, your loved one can, thanks to this service, receive a call lasting about twenty minutes. At the end of the line, volunteers who know how to listen…

4. Help him escape

And why not take him out of his routine and his usual environment? Your loved one may be retired, but they also have the right to a change of scenery… and to take a vacation.

This is good, since there are several schemes that offer elderly people holidays at a lower cost (outside the summer period), potentially with their caregiver.

With or without you, travel is in any case an excellent opportunity to get to know other people and simply to broaden your horizons.

5. Consider other forms of accommodation

When you, the caregiver, are present, or when your loved one is out for some activity, all is well. But it’s often at home that the feeling of isolation strikes… What if it was time to think about another form of accommodation?

Formulas allowing an elderly person to accommodate young adults under their roof for shared accommodation, or via a social housing organization, are beginning to develop in France. Another