It is spring and the sun and warm weather beckons us outside for much needed Vitamin D and some of our favorite leisure time activities like golf, bike riding and trail hiking.

Imagine how tough it is to be homebound right now, and unable to get outside for a bit of fresh air. Not a pretty picture, is it? Staying inside with no one to talk with can lead to depression and depression can lead to even greater illness.

A large body of research has linked late-life depression to social isolation, poorer health and an increased risk of death. Now, a new study finds that depression is associated with subsequent vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that depressed older adults (defined as those over age 50) were more than twice as likely to develop vascular dementia and 65 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than similarly aged people who weren’t depressed.

This is why Danville Support Services employs a team of companions available for scheduled visits with your elderly loved ones. Danville’s staff are experienced caregivers, trained in First Aid/CPR who can help recognize medical problems and in-home safety issues, etc. Our staff have also passed criminal background checks and have gone through our rigorous interview process and on-going training regimen.

Perhaps you know of someone who just needs to be checked on once a week? This can help tremendously with loneliness.

Give us a call today, and we will work together to lower the health risks of our older family members.