Great Care Celebrates Social Wellness Awareness

Home Care in Indianapolis, INThese days, the words “social network” makes the Great Care caregiving team think of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, etc. So when we heard July is Social Wellness Awareness Month, and that social support is now more important than ever, we took special note.

“Social wellness means nurturing yourself and your relationships,” says the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing. “It means giving and receiving social support – ensuring that you have friends and other people, including family, to turn to in times of need or crisis to give you a broader focus and positive self-image.”

To promote social wellness awareness, the Center for Spirituality & Healing reminds us of the importance of social support. “It enhances quality of life and provides a buffer against adverse life events,” the center says. “Social support can take different forms.”

They include emotional (sometimes called non-tangible) support, refering to the actions people take to make someone else feel cared for.

“Instrumental support refers to the physical, such as money and housekeeping. Informational support means providing information to help someone,” according to the center.

The Center for Spirituality & Healing says social wellness is important in that strong relationships are a vital component of health.

“The health risks from being alone or isolated in one’s life are comparable to the risks associated with cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and obesity,” the center reports. “Research shows that people who have a strong social network tend to live longer. The heart and blood pressure of people with healthy relationships respond better to stress. Strong social networks are associated with a healthier endocrine system and healthier cardiovascular functioning.
Healthy social networks enhance the immune system’s ability to fight off infectious diseases.”

Seniors and caregivers can benefit from stronger social networks by working out, joining a gym or an exercise group, and taking walks with pets.

“Starting a walking routine after dinner would not only give you another opportunity to be physically active, but it would also create more opportunities for you to meet your neighbors,” the center says.

Volunteering and donating time and hard work to a charity also helps build improved social awareness, says the center.

“You’ll feel good about the cause, and you’ll meet others with similar passions.”

Also, seek out friends and family members who share a hobby, such as hiking, painting, scrapbooking, knitting, dancing, playing cards, etc.

“Consider your interests and hobbies, and then pursue them,” You’re bound to find others with similar passions.”

For more information about social wellness, read more here.

Learn more about Great Care’s Care Compass, offering custom services that includes 24-hour elderly home care services, as many seniors are happiest when they can stay in their own home, with a familiar routine and surroundings.

The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs, including respite care. Great Care is a non-medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Fishers, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 240-9101 for more information.

 

About Julie S.

Julie Sullivan is the Owner at Great Care of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Great Care is a licensed, personal services agency, providing in-home care services to the Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding areas. We serve the personal health and daily care needs of seniors or individuals who prefer to stay at home, but require assistance with everyday activities, such as dressing, personal hygiene, meal preparation, laundry or errands. Our team of certified nurse aids and home health aids can provide you with personalized, in-home care services to meet your needs, including:
• Daytime hourly in-home care
• Temporary or post-hospital respite care
• 24-hour, around-the-clock home care
• Morning and evening care
• Overnight / Slumber care
In addition, we offer our Care Compass service, to assist in setting the course for the next stage in your loved ones life. We guide you through the currents of aging, and help you find your true north. Our licensed nurses, with experience in hospice and geriatric care, will help guide you through the complex and often sensitive journey of selecting an in-home care service, and will provide a smooth transition to a new way of life for your loved one, without the anxiety and fear.
Our current nursing and management team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the home healthcare services industry. All of our caregivers are bonded, insured and screened thoroughly, so you know you’ll be receiving the greatest care possible. That’s why we stand by our mission: to deliver the same, quality care we expect for ourselves and our loved ones.