Why Might Your Senior Be Bored?

All too many older adults finally have the time that they wanted in the past to do just about anything, but a variety of issues conspire to make them bored instead. It’s not something that you want for your senior, but to correct anything for her you need to get a handle on why she’s feeling bored.

Life Now Is Likely a Lot Different

In the past your senior’s life might have looked a lot different than it does now. She might have had a career that kept her busy or a home life that was packed full. Now she may only have herself to worry about and that doesn’t seem nearly as exciting as all of the stuff she used to do. Changes in her health can mean changes everywhere, too.

She Might Feel Stuck

Your senior might feel stuck where she is, emotionally and mentally speaking. She may feel as if there’s nothing more for her to do or that there’s nothing more she can do. If she’s always been too busy in the past for hobbies, it might not occur to her to find a new one that she enjoys now. Transportation problems can be another contributing factor, leading your senior to think that if she can’t go anywhere, she can’t do anything.

What She’s Able to Do Changes

Much of life is an ebb and flow and that’s still the case when your senior is older. What she might have been able to do to entertain herself last year might not be so enjoyable this year, for a variety of reasons. In the past, maybe she loved to read, but her eyesight has changed, for instance. Listening to audiobooks might be an option, but that’s a different activity and might not be something she enjoys as much as reading the words herself.

Loneliness and Boredom Go Hand in Hand

Who comes and goes in your senior’s life also matters, especially when you’re talking about boredom. When someone is lonely, that can lead to a general malaise. Being alone too often can tamp down your senior’s zest for life, leaving her unexcited about most anything that used to bring her joy. It’s important to keep tabs on how much socializing your senior is doing, if only because it can be a barometer for other mental health concerns.

Your elderly family member might not recognize that she’s bored or lonely or missing activities she used to do. She may chalk it up to just not feeling right. Bringing in home care providers can help because they can shake up her normal routine while also assisting her with daily tasks.

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN ANKENY, IA, FOR A SENIOR LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!