For many seniors, feelings of isolation and loneliness can be difficult to overcome. They can affect mental, physical, and emotional health and reduce quality of life. In Canada, nearly 1.4 million elderly people report feeling lonely — and this number will only increase as our population ages.
Luckily, there are things we can do to help tackle loneliness and isolation in older adults. Companionship services — like the buddy system — can be a great help for seniors who find it challenging to stay connected, active, and engaged. Seniors for Seniors offers a unique companionship model, pairing newly retired or younger seniors with older seniors.
“Being around the same age changes the lens through which we see aging clients,” says Kristina Dobbin, Director at Seniors for Seniors. “Oftentimes, health care focuses solely on the physical ailments of a client. Pairing our clients with a fellow senior increases the chance for commonalities, fostering meaningful connections.”
Companions can be a useful vehicle to help seniors create new experiences. “A companion works by inspiring seniors to get out of their comfort zone and staying with them as they get out of it,” explains Dobbin. At Seniors for Seniors, companion services include anything from friendly drop-in visits and assistance with chores to bedside companionship and 24/7 live-in care. “Our business model is completely adaptable,” says Dobbin. “We recognize that the services seniors need can be vastly different.”
For the growing number of retired adults who are looking to re-enter the workforce and continue to provide value to their community, companionship can also be a rewarding employment opportunity. To become a companion and help seniors navigate through their later years, Dobbin says “you need to want to help seniors age in place, and be caring, friendly, and compassionate.”
To celebrate June Seniors month, we’re offering new clients $25 off drop-in companion services when booked before July 31st, 2019.
