As the vaccine for COVID-19 is out and distributed to many Americans, the opportunity to spend time with our aging parents is finally at ease. Or is it? Many people are a bit nervous or anxious just what does this “new normal” look like today. How do you navigate this freedom to be social and how will you feel safe? These are good questions to ask and I am sharing a few tips to help you move forward past the pandemic and have a normalcy again. Be mindful that with the CDC regulations evolving, it is fine to lean to the cautious side of things. 

4 Tips to Integrate Yourself Back into Socialization

• One Step at a Time . Now you are vaccinated and you might feel liberated and ready to jump into the world ready to hug everyone you see. That may or may not be a good idea, but the best bet is to proceed with caution. Remember everyone comes to social gatherings with their own anxious feelings. The feeling could be driven by fear or excitement. Whichever camp someone may be in, it might be best to proceed with caution and take things one step at a time. Maybe you hug your friends that are vaccinated first and go from there. Listen to yourself and your feelings on what feels right as you start socializing again.

• Accept and Create Boundaries. Before the pandemic we all had our social boundaries that we expected (or set for others to abide by) when they were in our space. Now that we have experienced a pandemic, it is even more so in the forefront. What are the boundaries you expect from others and at the same time are you respecting the boundaries set by others. It is not a difficult road to navigate but one that is altered from the past. After months of not hugging or touching others, it might be difficult to do so right away. Be mindful of your aging parents as well. They may have forgotten about hugging or touching, and especially if they were spending months alone and without human touch or interaction. It takes time but establishing your comfort and accepting the comfort of others is the key to moving forward. You may not instantly hug everyone and everyone may not grab your hand either. Respectfully, be patient. You will get there, and as I mentioned above, take one step at a time.

• Respect other viewpoints on COVID-19. Wow, what a year. We cannot put ourselves in the shoes of others literally, but we can understand that everyone has walked around in their own journey with or without anxiety about COVID-19. You may have had a very easy time with COVID-19, other than being socially disconnected. However, it is also very probable that you lost someone, had COVID-19 or became quite anxious over the fear of COVID-19 affecting you or someone close to you. These feelings are real and affect everyone differently. Your aging mom may feel one way about COVID-19, and your father feels the complete opposite. This is not unusual. What you need to remember is that everyone has their own view and process for getting back to socializing again. It might take you getting involved to help your mom or dad feel less fearful to visit friends and family again. Proceed with caution but help them figure out what works for them to socialize and feel safe again.

• It is Okay to Ask for Help.  Oftentimes we want to avoid what scares us or makes us uncomfortable, but that is not frequently a good reality. As you start mingling with family and friends again, it is evident that COVID-19 and its variants are not completely gone. However, we can state the vaccinations eliminated a bit of fear and anxiety; in addition to helping in protecting loved ones from contracting the disease. Conversely, do your aging loved ones still feel anxious at a family gathering? If so, it is OKAY to ask a professional to help. Therapists are a wonderful resource to help deal with the post pandemic emotions and feelings that you may have moving forward. It is not an uncommon feeling too anxious or uncomfortable in social settings. To move on, it is essential to be able to handle your fears and emotions. Maybe you take a stand and ask one of your aging parents to see if they would like a counseling session, and it can be done from their own home.

As we stroll back into a social world, we need to proceed with caution. The pandemic was new to us and how to handle the anxiety and stress is not irreparable to their mental health. Take ownership in helping your aging parents gain or maintain strong emotional/mental health. Contact me, Ann Jamison, and I am happy to help you with resources or places for aging parents to live and cope with COVID-19 among us. Senior Living Options is here to help you make aging graceful and a little less stressful!

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.