Realizing that your senior has started to isolate herself can be a shock to you as her family caregiver. Looking for the underlying causes of that urge can help you to put a system in place that supports your senior’s needs and helps her to get back to the level of socialization that she wants to have. These are just a few of the causes of self-isolation that you might find surprising.

She Feels Disconnected from People Around Her

It’s not unusual for aging adults to feel as if they don’t have a lot in common with the people around them anymore. Your senior may no longer work or relate to neighbors in other ways, such as no longer having children at home. These differences can start to feel much larger than they used to, which can cause your senior to withdraw from people she may have normally tried to maintain friendships and acquaintances with regularly.

The People She Cares about Are Far Away

So many people in today’s world live far away from friends and family members, too. If that’s the case for a large number of the people that your elderly family member cares about, she can feel lonely and isolated. Over time, those feelings can continue to grow and cause her to feel more and more lonely. She may even start to isolate herself.

Her Brain Is Changing

Personal Care at Home in St. Petersburg FL

Older adults often experience changes in how their brains function. Sometimes these changes are due to normal aging and memory loss. Other times, these changes are a result of health issues such as dementia. It can be frustrating to feel as if her brain is something that she can no longer trust, and that can cause your aging family member to avoid other people as well.

She’s Experiencing Health or Physical Challenges that Are Embarrassing

As your senior ages and her health changes, it’s possible that she starts to experience challenges related to her health that are embarrassing. Mobility challenges are often a huge concern, and your elderly family member may be reluctant to use assistive devices. Accepting any help at all can feel like an impossible situation for your senior.

She Needs a Lot More Help than She’s Comfortable Sharing

Sometimes it’s not just that the problems your senior is experiencing are embarrassing, but that she needs a lot more help than she is comfortable telling you. Personal care at home can assist with tasks such as bathing, toileting, grooming, eating, and more. But if you don’t realize that she needs this type of specialized home care assistance, you can’t provide that help. Personal care at home is about helping your senior to maintain as much independence and dignity as possible, which can help her to feel less anxious about having help at all.
Shame and anxiety can be the beginning stages of a desire to isolate herself, but with the right help your elderly family member can find that she doesn’t have to withdraw from everyone around her.

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Personal Care at Home in St. Petersburg, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.