BROOKFIELD — The pandemic created a second invisible crisis for our seniors: Soul crushing isolation and loneliness.
The Health Resources and Services Administration reports isolation compares to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Part of protecting seniors from feeling this is how the ‘COVID Loneliness Squad’ was born.
A music therapist on staff with Synergy HomeCare has used her guitar and voice to bring joy to the seniors they care for.
We saw this one the eyes of 93-year-old Jeanne Callies of Brookfield. She shares how she feels when she hears a familiar song, “I want to jump and dance around!”
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Callies shares how companionship with her caregiver Lisandra keeps her active, “We play together now, we’re playing puzzles.”
“That will keep her mind busy and its a boost for memory,” said Lisandra Santana of Synergy HomeCare.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, about a quarter of Americans 65 and older consider themselves socially isolated, and loneliness is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Here’s your Rebound Rundown:
- Playing familiar songs can spark a senior’s memory and get them motivated.
- Play cards, puzzles, or cook with them to keep their mind active.
- You can learn more about Synergy HomeCare by clicking here.