Reaching Out To Those Who Are Lonely
Loneliness May Cause Feelings Of Sadness And Depression
I know a few people, mostly elderly, who are living alone and tell me that they feel very lonely and isolated. These feelings have caused them to also feel depressed and down. You may have a family member, friend or neighbor who is lonely and in need of some human interaction. To brighten this person's day, you may want to try these suggestions.
Send A Greeting Card
It doesn't have to be a holiday or a birthday for you to send someone a greeting card. You can send one just to let a person know that you are thinking of them. Sending a nice "thinking of you" greeting card along with a hand-written personal note might help brighten a lonely person's day.
Phone Call
Call up someone you know who may be feeling lonely. Tell them you are thinking of them and you would like to chat. Listen to them talk. Some people just need a listening ear or someone to hear them. Being alone all day with no one to talk to can make a person feel very isolated. Talking to the person on the phone can be a way for them to connect with someone. Try to make a regular call to check up on the person so that they feel valued and cared about.
Schedule A Visit
You might want to call and schedule a visit or invite the person to your house. If possible, offer to take the person to lunch or dinner or even to just go out for a walk. Getting out of the house might be a good way for them to feel less lonely. Not only will they be in your company, but they will feel a little more in touch with the world around them.
Send Or Drop Off A Gift
A nice gift to show you are thinking of someone can go a long way. Maybe you could send a bouquet of flowers to the person's home. It could be a homemade scrapbook filled with photos and memories. Whatever the gift may be, it is a nice gesture to show that you care and are thinking of someone.
Suggest Ways To Feel Less Lonely
You might want look up groups or social activities on the internet that the person may be interested in joining. If the person is able to, you may want to suggest that they do volunteer work for a local organization. Maybe volunteering is something that the two of you could do together. Animal shelters, nursing homes and hospice care organizations are usually looking for people to help out. Devoting time to a good cause may not only help a person feel less alone and more connected to the world, but it may also help increase a person's well-being. That can be a good mood booster. Some friendships can be formed while volunteering which can also increase their social network.
Visit A Nursing Home
Maybe you don't know anyone personally who is lonely but there are some people who live in nursing homes who feel alone. They may not have family or friends that visit. They may have outlived a lot of family members.
You could call a local nursing home and ask if they have any residents who do not receive any visitors. Then ask if they have any volunteer opportunities available so that you can be a companion to those who are alone. Your companionship can really make an impact on a person who is feeling lonely and living in a nursing home.