The Dos and Don'ts of Bringing Up the Health Concerns of Loneliness for Seniors
Humans are social creatures by nature. No matter the age, everyone needs to socialize. For older adults, this can be more difficult. This is especially true if they are new to the Collinsville area. Socializing doesn't only mean a happier life, but also a more healthy one. This article will help explain the importance and solutions to avoiding isolation.
Health Concerns of Loneliness
A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, found that one-in-four adults over 65 are classified as socially isolated. Older adults are especially at an increased risk of loneliness due to increased levels of living alone, hearing loss, loss of family or friends, or chronic illness.
While loneliness certainly impacts the quality of life, it can also have negative health implications. Loneliness can contribute to the following issues:
- Increased risk of dementia
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Higher risk of stroke
- Higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide
- Increased risk of heart failure
How to Approach Older Adults About Loneliness
Loneliness is a serious issue and trying to help older adults combat social isolation can be challenging. Many fear that bringing up the topic may make it worse. With that said, here are our dos and don'ts of talking about loneliness with older adults.
Dos
- Encourage visitation. Loneliness may be addressed without actually having to bring up the topic. Simply encourage visitation amongst friends and family. Most people would be happy to visit your loved one if asked. Some schools and organizations even have outreach programs to visit older adults.
- Family inclusion. Make sure that your loved one is included in family gatherings. This can include holidays, birthdays, sporting events, and more. There's a lot of power behind the feeling of being included.
- Seek volunteer opportunities. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in the Collinsville area. Volunteering can be a great way to interact with the community while making new friends. Reading to children, community gardening, and volunteering at museums are all great ways to get out and about.
- Join an exercise class. Exercise already provides excellent health benefits. It is also a great way to fight loneliness. There are plenty of exercise groups designed for older adults like tai chi, water exercise, and small walking groups.
Don'ts
- Alone time is still good. It's important not to overdo it when trying to fight loneliness. Alone time can still be a positive thing, especially if used to keep the mind engaged with activities like reading or crafting. When some people get older, they tend to not want or need a full calendar of socializing events.
- Don't exert too much energy. As people age, their social needs likely change. Even if someone used to be a social butterfly, they may be looking for more relaxing socializing activities. Reduced metabolism, smaller appetite, and drug side effects can all make socializing less energy intensive than in previous stages in life.
- Don't overlook health factors that contribute to loneliness. In some cases, there may be an underlying health factor that is contributing to loneliness. Some of these, like hearing loss, may be easily addressed. After all, it is hard to socialize if you can't understand what people are saying.