Loneliness and isolation are serious problems for seniors. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report that nearly 25% of adults aged 65 or older are considered socially isolated.
Loneliness has a huge negative impact on people’s well-being, quality of life, and even their health. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says that loneliness is linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline (including Alzheimer’s disease), and even death.
Fortunately, there are many practical solutions for combating loneliness in Santa Cruz for seniors, including getting safe transportation to events, joining the many activities or clubs available in Santa Cruz, or volunteering.
Learn more about Social Isolation in the Elderly.
Reach out to friends and family
First, seniors can reach out and reconnect with friends, family, and neighbors. Try to get together with those nearby and text, call, or video chat with those that live far away. Often, people would love to be closer if only you take the first step.
Manage health and hygiene
If health or hygiene issues cause embarrassment, make it hard to leave the house, or make it difficult to communicate, addressing them can make it easier to be social.
These issues could include:
- Hearing loss: get hearing aids or adaptive equipment to help you communicate more easily
- Vision loss: go to the optometrist to help your vision
- Lack of mobility: See if physical therapy could help make it easier for you to get around. Or look into aids such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair to help you leave your house safely.
- Incontinence: While many feel embarrassed, this is a health issue that can be addressed with medication, physical therapy, or incontinence supplies. Fear of an accident should not stop you from having an active social life.
- Hygiene struggles: If you have difficulty bathing or grooming, you can hire personal care to help you. There is no reason your hygiene has to decline just because your health has.
Figure out safe transportation
Lack of transportation is often another barrier to being socially active. Once seniors can no longer safely drive, they may feel more stuck at home.
Having safe transportation gives seniors the freedom to attend activities, visit people, or get out in the community.
Learn about all your transportation options, such as:
- Friends and family
- Pacific Angels Home Care: Private safe transportation where they are helped in and out of the car and can be escorted into the building (or even accompanied throughout the outing). We are trained in dementia and Alzheimer’s care, so we can also provide safe transportation for people with cognitive decline.
- Lift Line: A door-to-door transportation service for seniors to get to medical appointments, dining centers, adult day programs, and other essential services (support groups, grocery stores, restaurants, exercise centers, financial institutions, parks, churches, and other qualifying places).
- Santa Cruz Metro
- Paratransit: Door-to-door shared rides within 3/4 miles of a bus route for people with disabilities who cannot take the bus
- Santa Cruz Trolley
- Taxis and ride-hailing apps: These can be a good option if the senior can schedule it and doesn’t need accessibility. If they can ride by themselves but need help scheduling, they can use a service like GoGoGrandparent to connect them with ride services like Uber or Lyft through a phone call instead of an app.
- ITN America: ITN offers transportation for seniors who are members.
Transportation provided by caring caregivers gives seniors a chance to go do things and also serves as another social interaction.
Learn more about Senior Transportation in Santa Cruz.
Visit local sites
Take advantage of the great public sites in Santa Cruz by going to the:
- Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (it has events for seniors, such as workshops, lectures, volunteering, festivals, and dances)
- Santa Cruz Public Libraries (has events and programs, such as book clubs, writing groups, technology classes/workshops, and a genealogy program)
- Santa Cruz County Parks (offers a range of recreational programs, volunteer programs, classes, and trips specifically geared toward seniors.)
Join local activities
There are also many different activities and clubs offered to seniors in Santa Cruz.
City of Santa Cruz London Nelson Community Center
The City of Santa Cruz Downtown Senior Center offers a variety of classes and programs, such as:
- Walking adventure group
- Ping Pong Club
- Chair exercise class or chair yoga
- Yoga
- Line dance
- Tai chi
- Cardio drumming
- Garden club
- Rock art painting
- Qi gong
- Seniors share (like a support group for seniors to gather and share their challenges of getting older)
- Book club
- Bocce
- Travel talks
Market Street Theater and Senior Center
The Market Street Theater and Senior Center offers a bunch of classes and activities for seniors, including:
- shows
- multiple types of dance
- music
- improv
- woodcarving
- yoga
- pilates
- lapidary
Village Santa Cruz County
The Village of Santa Cruz County has a variety of classes, clubs, workshops, sports, and more for residents of Santa Cruz.
Mid-County Social Activity Center
Nearby in Capitola, they have an activity center for adults of all ages. They offer:
- Choraliers
- Spanish class
- Improv
- Japanese flower arranging
- book club
- Nineties club
- Ukulele club
- Multiple types of dance classes
- Multiple fitness classes, including yoga and tai chi
- Games, such as Bingo, bridge, canasta, chess, mah jong, scrabble, cribbage, dominoes
- Gardening
Learn more about Senior Activities and Resources in Santa Cruz.
Learn something new
Some of these activities or clubs allow seniors to learn something new. They could also decide to learn a new language, instrument, or art form.
Seniors can also decide to continue their education. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Santa Cruz accepts members. They have monthly speakers, courses, interest groups, and times to socialize.
Volunteer
According to the NIA, having a sense of mission and purpose is linked to healthier immune cells. Volunteering for any cause you believe in can help fulfill that sense of purpose. There are also volunteer opportunities specifically for seniors.
Foster Grandparent Program
With the Foster Grandparent Program, you volunteer to mentor and tutor students who need help socially or academically.
Senior Companion Program
Seniors can volunteer with the Senior Companion Program to be a peer companion and visit other seniors. You can help other seniors in need while making new friends.
Peer Counseling for Seniors
Volunteer with the Peer Counseling for Seniors to serve as a one-on-one peer counselor or a peer counselor in support groups for seniors.
Visit local dining sites
Meals on Wheels offers more than home-delivered meals. They also offer dining sites at 4 different local locations for daily hot meals on weekdays for seniors 60 or older.
Seniors can get a hot meal and socialize with each other.
Enroll in an adult day care program
Elderday offers day services for adults with complex medical conditions. They offer planned daily activities, health services, personalized meals, and reliable daily transportation to and from the center.
Companionship
Having companionship is so important and can come in many different ways.
Santa Cruz Stay Connected Program
The Stay Connected Program has volunteers with similar interests who make regular phone calls with seniors.
Companionship care
Pacific Angels Home Care offers companionship care to seniors in Santa Cruz. Our kind and friendly caregivers provide social connection and emotional support. We can talk, play games, watch movies, accompany you to events or activities, participate in your favorite hobbies, or help you find hobbies to enjoy.
Pacific Angels Home Care can help seniors in Santa Cruz combat loneliness
In addition to personal care, safe transportation, and companionship care, Pacific Angels also helps with housekeeping, meal prep, managing a schedule and making appointments, medication compliance, fall prevention, and respite care.
All of our caregivers are thoroughly screened and trained. We are available whenever needed (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and customize our services to each person’s needs.
For those in the Santa Cruz area, give us a call today at (831) 708-2876 or reach us online to request a free consultation.
