Loneliness

……..not to be confused with ‘being alone’

For some people ‘being alone’ is the way they like to live.  Enjoying their own company; being able to do exactly what they want to do, when they want to do it.  Watching their choice of TV programme, eating when they are hungry and not just to fit it with another person’s appetite.  Taking a walk on their own; enjoying the surroundings at their own pace and stopping to take in the view whenever they choose as opposed perhaps to walking with a group – chatting sometimes inanely for the sake of having a conversation.  For these people, holidaying on their own is bliss.  It’s their choice if they want to strike up a friendship but on the whole, they simply enjoy the freedom ‘being alone’ presents.

Loneliness is something quite different.  Perhaps as we have aged, our friends may not have aged so well – some may have a disability that prevents them from socialising or sadly some of our friends may have passed away.  It’s not something that happens overnight.  It could be that without even realising it, we’re not getting out of the house so often as we used to – we’re struggling a little with journeys we used to take for granted.  Driving may now be off the agenda so we’re reliant on family and friends to visit or take us out for the day and they have their own busy schedules which of course we understand.

But that doesn’t stop us feeling lonely.  We’re spending more and more time in the same room, staring at the same four walls and we hear ourselves telling the first person who visits ‘I’ve not spoken to anyone all day!’ which soon becomes ‘you’re the first person I’ve seen for days’.  We can feel isolated and sometimes even feel that it’s not worth making the effort to get dressed and face the day – which can soon develop into depression and negative thoughts.  Hopefully, this loneliness will be recognised by a friend or family member and help can be sought – possibly in the form of a care company who can put visits in place to address the situation.

At Wellbeing Homecare, our lovely, friendly ladies can bring a little bit of sunshine into your loved ones days.  Possibly a visit to help with personal care and meal preparation or even just to provide that much needed companionship.  A chat over a cup of coffee whilst putting the world to rights – or even a trip out to a garden centre or the hairdressers for a little pampering.  Loneliness can bring sadness into lives, it can give our loved ones too much time to dwell on ‘how things used to be’ instead of looking forwards to better days.

Don’t let loneliness take the place of happiness – let Wellbeing Homecare help to make the future brighter and stop your loved ones feeling alone.  If you would like to find out more or get started with a home visit; we’d be happy to hear from you.