6A — THE OBSERVER
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019
How retirees can make new friends
Has your social circle diminished over the
years? If so, it can be diffi cult to make new
friends as you get older. Here are some tips
that might help.
1. Be proactive. Go out and meet people. Lib-
raries, cafes and neighbourhood gathe-
rings are all ideal places to mingle. Alter-
natively, take a class that interests you,
volunteer with a charity or join a club.
2. Seize opportunities. If someone invites
you to an event or on an outing, accept!
Don’t make excuses just because you’re
nervous. If you meet someone you like,
make plans to see them again soon.
3. Be interested. Listen to others and be in-
terested in what they have to say. Smile,
ask questions and don’t monopolize the
conversation.
Are you feeling isolated or fl at out lonely?
If so, here are four ways to enrich your
social life, connect with others and alle-
viate loneliness.
4. Keep in touch. Meeting new people isn’t
the only way to enrich your social life. It
can be just as rewarding, if not more so, to
get in touch with old friends. You may be
surprised at how easily you’re
able to reconnect.
1. ADOPT A PET
Caring for a pet can mitigate feelings of
loneliness. If your situation allows for it,
welcoming a furry friend into your life
could be a great idea. You might even
meet other pet owners, especially if you
take your animal companion out for a
walk from time to time.
There’s no shortage of ways
to meet new people. Search
the internet to fi nd local groups
and clubs that interest you.
Alternatively, take regular walks
around your neighbourhood.
It’ll keep you in shape and
you’ll get to know people in
the area.
TYPES OF INFANTILIZING BEHAVIOURS
A common form of infantilization is
what’s called “elderspeak.” It consists of
speaking slowly, loudly and with a sim-
plified vocabulary. Using diminutives
and fi rst-person plural pronouns are other
forms of this behaviour. In addition to
making seniors feel resentful, elderspeak
can seriously affect their sense of self-
worth and decrease their confi dence.
Another common way people infantilize
seniors is by ignoring their preferences
and making decisions for them. In parti-
cular, needlessly opting for medications
in the form of syrups and suppositories
can be degrading.
2. LEAVE THE HOUSE
Venturing outdoors will help you feel
better both mentally and physically. Make
a habit of running a few errands every
day or visiting your local library, movie
theatre or park. If you’re limited in terms
of mobility, leaving the house
regularly may require a mobi-
lity scooter or going on se-
niors’ trips with a trusted organi-
zation.
the cob webs of loneliness away. What’s
more, joining clubs and taking classes
will al low you to meet new people. If you
prefer, there are plenty of courses and
groups that cater specifi cally to seniors.
4. REACH OUT
There are a number of organizations that
help seniors improve their quality of life.
Some may be able to provide individual
counselling to help you move beyond
your loneliness. Additionally, there may
be group counselling sessions where you
can connect with others going through a
similar experience.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to rush
anything. The best way to move beyond
loneliness is at your own rhythm.
3. JOIN A CLASS
OR GROUP
Rekindling your interest in an
old hobby or adopting a new
one can be a great way to push
Elder infantilization:
types and how to not do it
Elder infantilization, or treating seniors
as children rather than as fully functio-
ning adults, is a common issue in health
care settings and communities across the
country. Though in many cases the beha-
viour is unconscious, it’s none the less a
form of psychological mistreatment. Here’s
what you should know.
4 ways seniors
can alleviate loneliness
In a health care setting, the use of toys,
child-like decor and reprimands are all
signs of infantilization. A loss of privacy,
choice and adult status are also indica-
tors.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD
Seniors don’t regress. Overall, they retain
the vocabulary and intelligence they’ve
developed over the course of their life-
time and can even expand upon it. In
most cases, it’s unnecessary to adapt the
way you communicate with the seniors
in your life.
However, if you’re talking to someone
with hearing issues, it’s important to en-
sure they can see your lips clearly. You
can also speak louder if necessary but be
sure not to yell.
In the case of seniors with cognitive is-
sues, it may be appropriate to use ges-
tures to clarify your meaning. However,
this should be done respectfully.
Most importantly, when re-
lating to the seniors in your
life, remember to treat them
as autonomous beings who
have intelligence, dignity
and value.
If you or someone close
to you is being infantilized,
speak up. Confi de in
someone you trust.
How age aff ects your ability
to drive and what you can do about it
Did you know that older adults are more li-
kely to receive tickets and get into accidents
than other drivers? This is because for some,
decreased vision, hearing impairments, slo-
wer refl exes and other medical issues can
get in the way of driving safely.
STAY ON TOP OF HEALTH CONCERNS
Age doesn’t automatically make someone an
unsafe driver. Nevertheless, some individuals
may not recognize that their driving capabili-
ties have diminished. Here’s what you can do
to ensure that you’re able to keep driving safely.
• Get your vision and hearing checked
yearly, and make sure corrective devices
like glasses and hearing aids are kept up to
date.
• Exercise regularly in
order to keep your body
nimble and able to per-
form necessary driving mo-
vements like shoulder
checks and moving your
foot from one pedal to the
other.
AMEND YOUR DRIVING HABITS
If driving is starting to make you nervous,
altering your habits may be what you need
to regain your confi dence behind the wheel.
Consider switching from a manual car to an
automatic for ease of driving. It may also be
a good idea to stay off the road at night and in
bad weather. To avoid getting lost, use a GPS
or plan your route before leaving the house.
KNOW WHEN TO STOP DRIVING
If you’ve been in an increasing number of
accidents or near accidents, observed dents
in your car that you can’t explain or noticed
other drivers frequently honking at you, it
may be time to take a refresher course in
driving. Alternatively, it may be the right
moment to give up your car entirely.
For help with ALL your Medicare Coverage options
LOCALLY!
• Talk to your doctor or
pharmacist about any me-
dications you’re taking and
whether they can impair
driving.
541-975-1364
Toll Free 1-866-282-1925 www.reed-insurance.net
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any people have been asking
WILDFLOWER LODGE
DEMENTIA
CAREGIVER
SUPPORT GROUP
3590
if preplanned funeral arrangements are
transferable from one funeral home to
another. The simple answer is yes, they are.
And the process is easy.
Join us for our monthly support group
created for family members or caregivers
just like you. This group will help get
you re-energized by sharing, talking
through challenges and building a mutual
support system.
Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday | October – December | Noon – 1 p.m.
508 16th Street | LaGrande, OR 97850
For more information on upcoming topics, please call 541-780-0769.
Assisted Living | Memory Care | 70M256
WWW.SENIORLIFESTYLE.COM
Call Loveland
Funeral Chapel
today, and let us take care
of the details for you.
and Union County’s Crematory
1508 Fourth St. 541-963-5022
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