In this heartfelt episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast, we speak with Deborah Armstrong, a specialist in senior isolation and loneliness. Deborah sheds light on a reality many older adults face: feeling disconnected from their families and the world around them. Whether it’s an inability to relate to the fast-paced conversations of their children and grandchildren or the impact of cognitive or mental health issues, isolation often leads to deep sadness or depression.

Deborah also reminds us how the COVID-19 pandemic heightened this problem, as everyone became more familiar with the toll that prolonged isolation can take.

But there is hope. Deborah shares practical and compassionate strategies to help bring our aging loved ones back into connection with life and those around them. Some of her suggestions include:

• Taking them out for short visits to familiar or new places
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• Bringing laughter into their lives through funny movies or joyful memories
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• Surrounding them with children when possible, whose energy can be contagious
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• Sharing family photos to spark stories and conversation
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• Bringing along favorite activities (like coloring, knitting, or puzzles) when going to appointments to make wait times more enjoyable
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• Encouraging movement—short walks, gentle dancing, or just listening to music
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• Singing together or reading a book they once loved
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• Reentering their world, rather than forcing them into ours
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Deborah’s message is clear: reconnection doesn’t require grand gestures—it starts with small, loving actions that honor who they are and what brings them joy.

Tune in to learn how to help the elders in your life feel seen, heard, and valued once again.