Social activities for the elderly

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Everyone benefits from meeting other people and taking part in social activities

Not only do shared activities and positive relationships contribute to our wellbeing but they also improve our brain health too. According to the Global Council on Brain Health’s 2017 report, “older people who are more socially engaged and have larger social networks tend to have a higher level of cognitive function”.

Life events, such as bereavement, ill health, lack of mobility and confidence, and retirement can all contribute to reduced social networks, making it more difficult to stay active socially. Our social activity support service is tailored to our clients’ individual needs and we can assist with overcoming many of the challenges older people face with socialising.

Here we take a closer look at why social activities are so beneficial and how Caremark can help you or your loved one meet friends, try something new and reap the rewards.

We’ll focus on: 

Why social activities are so important for the elderly

The activities Caremark supports with

What our clients think about our social activity support

How to find social activities in your or your loved one's area

Why are social activities so important?

We know that loneliness and social isolation can increase health risks in older people and has been associated with health issues such as depression, sleep problems, hypertension, stress and mental health problems. (Read more about this here) .

According to Age UK, nearly a million older people in the UK go for more than a month without speaking to anyone. It's normal for social networks to get smaller as we get older and even just thinking about making new friends or socialising more can be overwhelming. And that’s where Caremark can help.

The benefits of taking up a social activity

Social activities can help you or your loved one in so many ways, from helping to maintain social connections and reducing feelings of loneliness to introducing new hobbies or skills or revisiting old ones. Socialising has also been shown to help us stay mentally sharp in old age.

Although everyone has unique needs, and physical abilities may differ greatly, we find that everyone benefits from occasional (and preferably regular) socialising. A social event can be something to look forward to, enjoy at the time and then look back on and reflect on.

If you or your loved one is recovering from an illness, getting out and about could speed up the recovery process and meeting new and familiar faces also has the simple positive impact of making one feel generally happier. If you spend a lot of time at home, joining a local club or participating in an activity provides a whole new experience, adding another perspective to your life.

How Caremark can help

When we draw up care plans with our clients, we always try to incorporate some elements of socialising. These are catered to you or your loved one and sometimes involve gradual steps towards a goal of becoming more socially engaged – especially if this is quite far removed from the current lifestyle or situation.

We’ll find activities to suit you or your loved ones’s needs

Our care assistants totally understand how daunting joining a new activity or club can be – especially if you or your loved one hasn’t socialised for a while. Physical disabilities, illness or mobility issues might even make socialising seem almost impossible. But we are here to help you or your friend or relative take small steps to start rebuilding your/their social life. We’ll help you or your family member or friend to focus on activities you enjoy, going through what might suit your/their personality, considering physical abilities and needs, too.

We’ll do the research

Perhaps you or your loved one would like to try something new but have no idea how to get started. We can chat about what might be suitable and find out what the options are in your local area, before helping to complete any paperwork, if needed.

We’ll help you find the confidence

It’s totally understandable if you or your loved one feel nervous about socialising. Our care assistants can go with you or your family member to help you get started at a new club or just have a friendly face to go inside with. We’ll provide the boost of confidence you/they need to get started with something new.

And we’ll help you or your loved one get there, even if mobility is a problem

If you or your loved one has problems with mobility, we’ll try to find a solution. We’ll help organise transportation and can even go with you/them to carry mobility aids or provide an arm to lean on, should you or your loved one need it. If going out is too tricky we can help to organise for friends or relatives to visit and we can also help enhance your/their social life (or assist with keeping up with people who can’t easily visit) through online messaging applications. Bringing a little of the outside world into your/their life can make a big difference.

Social interaction can make all the difference, and when someone has reduced mobility or other disabilities it becomes even more important.

A member of our friendly team will be happy to give you further details about Caremark’s social activities service and how we can help you or your loved one. Please click to find the contact details for your local office.

To read more about how we can help with social activities, visit our Social Activities Guide.

What social activities do you enjoy?

From days out at the seaside or trips to the theatre or local social club to shopping trips, visits to the hairdresser or to meet friends at a nearby cafe, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for older people to meet, mingle and discover new hobbies. Keeping on top of plans can be difficult, so here we list a few of the social activities we can help you or your loved one to organise and enjoy:

Days out, such as meeting friends and family, or trips to the seaside
Weekly visits to the local pub, or a social club
Visits to the local cricket or bowls club
A milestone birthday with family
Meeting new people at a meet and greet organised event
Supermarket and shopping trips
Visits to the hairdresser or beauty therapist
A trip to the library
Meeting friends at a café
A visit to the cinema or theatre

The possibilities are endless and we're very open to helping you or your friend or relative to access new destinations or clubs, so do just let us know if you have any ideas we haven't covered here. We will do our best to help make the necessary arrangements for you. And please don't be put off if you think something is out of reach – we’ll do our best to adapt it to you or your loved one's circumstances and needs.

To read more about how we can help with social activities, visit our Social Activities Guide.

Why choose Caremark?

 “All the carers are very friendly and helpful. We give them 10/10 for an excellent service.”

Client, Caremark (Dartford & Gravesham)

“In the words of my darling dad: ANGELS. These ladies are true angels, their care and compassion goes beyond anything we could have dreamed of. They are not carers to us, they are now family.”

Daughter of a client, Caremark (Dartford & Gravesham)

“I wish to thank you for the wonderful care and attention your carers have given me over the last year, especially when I was feeling very ill. Now I am feeling well and can help myself. I will miss the lovely people.” 

Client, Caremark (Welwyn & Hatfield)

"It’s reassuring that Caremark look after our 95-year old auntie, whilst she is reasonably active and self-sufficient, she can be a bit forgetful and relishes the regular relationship she has developed with her carers.”  

Relative of a client, Caremark (Spelthorne & Runnymede)

How much does help with social activities cost?

We can help arrange an activity and even transport you or your loved one there for a minimal cost. Often clubs and social activities for older people are free, so you or your friend or relative might just need to pay for the care you receive and transportation costs, or this might even be paid for by your local council. Social activities don't have to cost much, and they can make a huge difference.
 
Age UK has useful search functions so you can check to see what's on in your local area. Many of the activities are free or cost a minimal amount.

For further information about financing and to receive a personalised quote, please get in touch with the team at your local office by filling out the form below.

Would you like to find social activities near you?

If you would like more details about social activities near you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by filling out the form below. Your local Caremark team will be in touch to guide you through your options.

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