Q. I can't convince my 82-year-old dad that he will feel better and stay healthier if he remains socially active. Since Mom died he doesn't seem to want to do anything.
Tell your dad about the latest news, which reveals that those who are socially active are at least one and one-half times as likely to avoid disability. According to research, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences and conducted at Rush University Medical Center, higher levels of social activity are associated with a decreased risk of becoming disabled.
"Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better everyday functioning and less disability in old age," said lead researcher Bryan James, Ph.D., from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center.
"The findings are exciting because social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability," he noted.
The study included 954 older adults with a mean age of 82 who are participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, an ongoing longitudinal study of common chronic conditions of aging. At the start of the investigation, none of the participants had any form of disability. They each underwent yearly evaluations that included a medical history and neurological and neuropsychological tests.
Results showed that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability involving activities of daily living than a person with a low level of social activity, and about 1.5 times as likely to remain free of disability involving instrumental activities of daily living or mobility.
Your father could be suffering from depression since the passing of your mom. Why not encourage him to visit his doctor to make sure his health checks are up-to-date. Then suggest that he reconnect with his friends or make new ones at a senior center or faith-based organization.
Perhaps he could use a little help as well. A CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care® could help on two fronts: first, a CAREGiver could provide companionship and someone to accompany him to events or activities. A CAREGiver also could assist your father in reconnecting with old friends or help facilitate his social schedule.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, go to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, visit http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1471.
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