In today's tech-centered age, staying in touch with friends and family members from all over the country has never been easier. With just a few clicks of a mouse or a text on your smart phone, you can easily stay connected with individuals from all across the world. However, even with all of this technology at our fingertips, there are many seniors today who live in complete social isolation and who deal with debilitating loneliness.
This problem has become an epidemic in the senior community as more seniors than ever are dealing with extreme loneliness, and the effects are more severe than many ever thought. As caregivers, friends and family members of seniors, it is important to be aware of the effects that loneliness can have on seniors, how to prevent loneliness in seniors and lessen the impact that this state of being can have on older adults today.
How Lonely Are Seniors Today?
There has been a great deal of research done on the topic of loneliness among seniors. While many seniors do live with other individuals, and less than 20 percent of seniors today live alone, a recent study from the University of California in San Francisco, found that it doesn't mean that those living with others don't feel lonely. In fact, in this study, 43 percent of seniors surveyed indicated they feel lonely, even if they don't live alone.
In addition to these findings, a study from the AARP also found that many seniors today face social issues that only adds to their feelings of isolation and loneliness. This study found that 45 percent of seniors age 65 and over are separated or widowed, 42 percent of Americans over 65 are disabled and that 46 percent of women age 65 and older actually live alone. Plus, these individuals are expected to live to at least 85 in today's world, meaning for many, they have a solid 20 years of their lives to face this loneliness head on.
While this may seem like a rather mild problem in a world where heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease take the lives of so many seniors, however, this study found that loneliness can actually have a very serious impact on the health and well-being of seniors today. This study found that individuals age 60 and older who report feelings of loneliness had a 45 percent higher risk of death than those who do not report feeling lonely. Meanwhile, isolated seniors have a 59 percent greater risk of mental and physical decline than individuals who do not experience this type of social isolation.
Why is Loneliness Such a Serious Problem?
Why is loneliness so deadly? Research has found that when feelings of loneliness set in, it can increase the risk of depression, over eating, malnutrition, alcohol abuse and other mental and social health issues. It can also have some serious physical repercussion as well. Loneliness can increase the chance of arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and even glaucoma.
While dementia is already a real and pressing threat in the senior community, a study from the University of Chicago has found that perceived loneliness is linked to quicker cognitive decline and a higher risk of dementia.
Unfortunately, many seniors today find themselves at risk for these issues as more and more adult children and family members are moving away from their elderly parents, leaving seniors completely alone and in a state of social isolation. A lack of social contact and low proximity to friends and family members all breed more issues with isolation. When there isn't a strong network of friends and family members near seniors today it can cause them to withdraw into a state of social isolation.
Many seniors today do not live an active lifestyle, and spend most of their time indoors, which not only breeds loneliness but increases the likelihood of developing other serious health issues that can only keep senior adults more confined. While this is an unfortunately common issue among the senior community, it doesn't mean there aren't things that friends, family members and loved ones can do to lessen the impact that loneliness can have.
How To Protect Your Loved One From Loneliness
Loneliness may be a serious issue among seniors, but it doesn't mean there aren't things you can do to protect your loved one from this serious social health issue.
One of the first things to remember is that physical isolation is one of the biggest contributing factors to feelings of social isolation. If a senior is geographically or physically in an isolated location, it can greatly impact their feelings of social isolation. Even if your loved one isn't necessarily socially engaging others all of the time, if they are in a location where they see other individuals and are around people on a regular basis, it can significantly lessen their feelings of loneliness.
Transportation challenges are other issues that can impact a senior's feelings of isolation. According to the aforementioned AARP study, life expectancy tends to extend past safe driving expectancy by about six years for men and 10 years for women, meaning many seniors are living without access to transportation. This can not only lead to feelings of being "trapped" and "dependent" on others, but it can greatly increase feelings of loneliness. Helping seniors cope with a loss of independence, especially when they lose the ability to drive, can go a long way in warding off feelings of loneliness and isolation.
While you can't magically make a senior competent enough to drive again, you can help provide them with rides, transportation options or link them up with senior transportation services or public transportation services in their area. The idea of an Uber or a Lyft may be new to most seniors at first, but they can easily help many seniors feel more connected with the outside world, even when they can't drive.
New activities such as gyms, clubs or even volunteering are all great ways for seniors to challenge themselves to try something new and to maintain an active social life. If you help your loved one start using the internet and sign up for social media accounts, many times the simple act of seeing what their friends and family members are up to can greatly decrease feelings of loneliness. The important thing to remember is that if you see signs of isolation setting in, as a friend and loved one, the best thing you can do is to start encouraging more activities and helping them maintain an active social life, before your loved one starts to experience some of those more serious health effects of loneliness.
When seniors reach a certain age, they may need professional care, and while this can be a challenging time for many seniors, it can also provide them with a unique social opportunity. Many older adults who live in rural areas or isolated environments benefit from transferring to nursing homes or assisted living facilities because they are finally able to be around their peers. In fact, senior living facilities can perhaps make the most dramatic difference in any senior's social life, as they provide adults with the chance to share a meal, live among and try new activities with a group of adults their age.
While the number of older adults who deal with these feelings of isolation and loneliness is still growing today, there are ways that friends and family members can be more proactive in helping their loved ones get the social interactions they need to keep feelings of loneliness at bay.