When a senior mourns the death of a spouse, they have difficulty sleeping, eating, concentrating, and making decisions because of their grief. While the pain decreases over time, the surviving spouse often struggles to put their life back together. One of the best things a senior who has lost a spouse can do is to spend time with others. That’s why moving to a retirement community can help, as CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center outlines here.
Overcoming Loneliness
PsychCentral notes that it’s inevitable that the loss of a spouse will cause loneliness. Retired couples often spend more time together, and the loneliness of isolation can cause serious problems for seniors. Being lonely exacerbates depression, but spending time with others talking or engaging in activities helps one move past grief and move on with their lives while still honoring the memory of the departed spouse.
Moving to a senior living community provides a new circle of people who are waiting to become friends. Meeting new people and developing new friendships can deliver more emotional support to help a senior cope with the loss.
Invite old friends or family members to the new place. Show loved ones around, since other residents will want to meet them; this creates a wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow residents and break the ice by introducing loved ones to them.
Becoming Active Again
As SeniorAdvisor.com points out, the majority of senior living communities organize classes, trips, and social functions for residents. Take advantage of as many as you feel comfortable with when you first become a resident. Over time, you will look forward to participating in the activities and spending time with new friends.
You can begin slowly by meeting a friend for coffee or lunch. Then, set a time to go for an evening walk with a new friend. Once you find one or two people that you enjoy spending
time with, accept their invitations to play games or pursue a hobby in a common area or in one another’s living spaces. You will find that you want to be more activ
e with your friends and that the more active you are, the easier it will be to cope with the loss of a spouse.
Getting a Fresh Start
It is not a good idea to move into a local senior living community immediately following the death of your spouse. You need time to grieve and to come to terms with the loss, and making a life-altering decision to move is not one you want to make hastily. If you have a disability or an illness, a good strategy during this time while you’re still living at home is to visit CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center. Here, you’ll receive friendly and professional support.
After you’ve had about six to twelve months to grieve and process the emotions, you may decide that moving to a senior living community is the right option for you. Many widows and widowers have difficulty remaining in their home after the loss of a spouse because there are so many memories everywhere they look.
Starting anew can reap other rewards beyond the senior community. Instead of replaying past experiences in your mind and ruminating about the unknown future, take steps to be intentional about living in the present. One way to do this is starting a nonprofit in your loved one’s honor, a process that’s made easy thanks to the services at ZenBusiness. The nonprofit could benefit any number of causes, including ones that were near and dear to their heart.
Sometimes widows and widowers find that moving to a senior living community gives them a fresh start and helps them deal with the memories in a less painful way. They can remember their spouses and think fondly of them in a new place more easily than they could in the family home. Being in a community with new friends and participating in activities can make coping with the loss of a spouse a little more manageable.
CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center enhances the quality and dignity of life for individuals who have disabilities or illness through a supportive and rehabilitative day program, which maximizes their independence and therefore enables the individuals to remain in their home environment. Reach out today for more information!