Mental Health: How To Beat Loneliness And Social Isolation In Old Age – Expert Shares Tips
While physical health issues like aches and pains, declining cognition, and challenges to mobility are key problems in old age, what often gets overlooked is mental health. An acute sense of loneliness can be debilitating for the elderly and it’s essential to take steps to combat the issue.
Life is never a bed of roses and every phase of life comes with its unique set of challenges. When we think of old age, the first thing that comes to our mind is failing health and reduced immunity. While health challenges are real, one thing that often gets overlooked is the acute sense of loneliness that comes with old age. Prakriti Poddar, Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Roundglass Living app, shares, “Every phase of life comes with its unique challenges and old age is no different. There are aches and pains, declining cognition, and challenges to mobility. But ask any person older than 70 years of age what is the most difficult part of getting old and chances are they will say, ‘loneliness’.”
Social Engagement and Companionship In Senior Living: Combating Isolation
Senior loneliness and isolation are serious public health concerns that require our focus. Age, changing social dynamics, bereavement, and restricted mobility are just a few of the reasons why seniors often feel cut off from the outside world. Loneliness and social isolation can have a serious negative impact on seniors’ physical and mental health as well as their general well-being. This article will discuss risk assessment methods and provide several strategies for encouraging social interaction in addition to exploring the negative health effects of loneliness and social isolation in the elderly.
Understanding the Factors Driving the Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Canadians
Social isolation and loneliness are becoming increasingly recognized as significant public health concerns, particularly for older individuals, across Canada and around the world. With older persons making up a rapidly growing proportion of Canada’s population, the number of isolated or lonely older Canadians is expected to significantly increase, meaning that both the individual and societal consequences of loneliness and social isolation will likely also become more severe.
The report, Understanding the Factors Driving the Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Canadians, finds that as many as 41 per cent of Canadians aged 50 years and older are at risk of social isolation and up to 58 per cent have experienced loneliness before. To date, a lack of consistent definitions and measurement scales of loneliness and social isolation have made it challenging to fully characterize the scope of the problem in Canada, which could better enable measures to address it. Using data from the NIA’s inaugural 2022 Ageing in Canada Survey results, the report aims to fill this evidence gap by examining the extent to which both social isolation and loneliness are impacting Canadians aged 50 years and older across 10 provinces, and will continue to do so over the coming decade.
Understanding Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Canadians and How to Address It
Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly recognized as important public health concerns. Globally, as well as in Canada, these issues have significant implications for the health and well-being of older persons. Older adults are at increased risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness, and are especially vulnerable to their negativeimpacts. With older persons making up a rapidly growing proportion of Canada’s population, the number of either isolated or lonely older adults is also expected to increase, meaning that both the individual and societal consequences of loneliness and social isolation are expected to become more severe.
Don’t forget to check on your older neighbours living alone
Bella* likes to joke she’s “old but still naughty”.
Bella, in her early 80s, has lived alone since her husband passed away almost 20 years ago. Her relatives are all scattered across Australia, and she spent another festive season by herself.
She’s lost count of how many times she’s been alone during the holidays.
How we can help
Because loneliness is a social issue, we all have a role to play in addressing it.
We know older people are reluctant to disclose their loneliness. They don’t want to be labeled “lonely oldies”, as Bella pointed out.
So, how can we help?
Here are some valuable suggestions from our participants: