September marks Oddfellows’ Friendship Month, a national awareness campaign which celebrates the importance of friendship and encourages communities to come together and enjoy each other’s company.
As part of this, they run hundreds of events nationwide designed to get people enjoying the benefits of being part of a local friendship group. You can find out more information about the month here: https://www.oddfellows.co.uk/about/friendship-month/
Creating and maintaining genuine, meaningful connections such as these is incredibly important whatever age you are. However, it’s particularly vital to people as they grow older, providing fantastic boosts for their physical and mental wellbeing.
As we age, it’s all too easy to slip out of the routine of getting out and about, seeing friends, and keeping up with hobbies. But we should always go the extra mile to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Here are five reasons why:
1. Promotes emotional wellbeing
Feeling disconnected from society can make people feel lonely, sad, and is hugely damaging to your mental health. Maintaining social connections therefore does wonders for emotional wellbeing, giving people a sense of belonging.
2. Helps maintain physical health
Studies have repeatedly shown that elderly people with high levels of social interaction actually reap the benefits physically too – with slower progression of health decline, lower blood pressure and lower stress levels. Even more reason to enjoy some fresh air with a friend!
3. Keeps the brain active
Taking part in community classes and fun social activities keeps all elderly people feeling engaged and sprightly. Such activities are also hugely beneficial to individuals suffering from dementia, as well as being a good way to spend quality time with loved ones suffering from such conditions.
4. Learning new skills
It’s never too late to learn something new! Discovering you have a knack for knitting, for example, gives elderly people a boost and helps broaden the range of activities they can spend their days enjoying doing.
5. Friends make you happy
The power of friendship should never be underestimated. Being around people you love spending time with is a fantastic way to spend your day. Regular contact also extends the amount of people looking out for you who have your best interests at heart, both physically and mentally.
How Blossom Home Care helps keep clients active and engaged
The indisputable benefits of feeling loved and appreciated by friends, family and your community isn’t lost on us. Indeed, enabling our clients to continue engaging in their favourite hobbies and pastimes form a central pillar of our holistic approach to wellbeing.
However, it’s common for those requiring any level of care in their own home to feel down or frustrated that they are no longer able to fully look after themselves. That’s why we have meticulously developed our care provision, designed to improve every client’s mind, body and soul.
Ensuring clients can partake in social activities as much as possible
We have an unbridled passion for caring and believe approaching every situation with such a distinctly positive attitude makes a real difference for all our clients – and for everyone else in their own personal community.
Our amazing carers always go the extra mile to ensure clients can continue to enjoy the countless benefits of socialising and enjoying their hobbies. Whatever their interests, we work tirelessly with clients and their families to fully meet their individual wishes.
Everyone is unique, but common activities we help clients partake in include:
● Going to social clubs and group gatherings
● Attending friend and family parties
● Watching live sports and events
● Taking part in arts and crafts activities
● Trips to pubs and restaurants
● Visiting parks and tourist attractions
We see continued interaction with clients’ communities as utterly essential. Our life-affirming approach to caring for clients also helps prevent deteriorating health issues, dramatically improving their outlook and overall happiness; a positive mindset brings positive things.
Ready to experience a new level of care?
Blossom Home Care has an unbreakable commitment to delivering exceptional levels of service. If you want to find out more about how our superb carers can help your loved ones, please contact us today.
We look forward to helping you.