BY ANNE-MARIE BOTEK
We live in an age where we can communicate with friends and family members across the country and around the globe with a few clicks of a mouse or taps on a smart phone screen. However, despite advances in communications technology and the increasing connectedness it brings, research indicates that, as a society, we are lonelier than we have ever been. Perhaps no other age group feels the keen sting of loneliness more than the elderly. Why Are Older Adults so Lonely? Age brings many difficult changes that contribute to a more solitary life. One of the biggest issues for seniors is that their social circles begin to shrink as the years go by. Friends, significant others and family members move away or pass away. Even those who still live close by may be inaccessible due to limited mobility, especially once a senior can no longer drive safely. Age-related changes in one’s physical condition, such as hearing loss and low vision, can make it so difficult to communicate that it doesn’t seem worth the effort anymore. Embarrassment can be a factor as well. Many older adults who suffer from incontinence, are on oxygen therapy or need to use a mobility aid to get around not only face logistical obstacles when it comes to leaving the house, but they must also overcome feeling self-conscious about these “obvious” signs of aging. It is trying enough for a senior to maintain healthy relationships despite these challenges, but when one’s entire peer group is experiencing any combination of these factors, it can be difficult if not impossible to get together or keep in touch on a regular basis. Sadly, many seniors experience a decline in the number and quality of their relationships as they age, whether it is self-imposed or due to outside forces. Even when a senior is being taken care of by family caregivers, T. Byram Karasu, MD, from the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says that there is often little attention paid to deep, engaging communication between a senior and the rest of the family. The changes listed above are factors, but caregivers are usually so worn out from juggling their day-to-day responsibilities that they have little time or energy left for truly meeting a senior’s emotional and social needs. Bobbie Smith, a professional caregiver for Home Instead Senior Care with more than six decades of elder care experience under her belt, echoes this sentiment but believes the issue actually runs deeper throughout the structure of families. She says that a modern trend is the breakdown of extended family relationships—like those between grandparents and grandchildren. This has caused many elderly people to feel as though they have been “pushed to the side” and forgotten about. This is especially true for family units that have spread across the country and have difficulty making time for visits and even regular communication by phone and mail. The Consequences of Loneliness In addition to the damaging mental effects of feeling that one lacks fulfilling personal relationships, feeling lonely can also take a toll on one’s physical health. A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study found that participants 60 years old and older who reported feeling lonely saw a 45 percent increase in their risk of death. Isolated survey respondents also had a 59 percent greater risk of mental and physical decline than their more social counterparts. This decline manifested specifically in participants’ abilities to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), the six basic tasks that are necessary for truly independent living. In other words, loneliness has the potential to accelerate a senior’s need for assistance from a family caregiver or another source of long-term care. Loneliness is thought to act on the body in a way that is similar to chronic stress. It raises the levels of stress hormones like cortisol in the body, which impairs immune responses and contributes to inflammation, mental illness and conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry even found that loneliness may be associated with the development of brain biomarkers associated with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Lastly, psychologists from the University of Chicago analyzed data from an ongoing multi-generational cardiovascular study that began in 1948 and discovered another remarkable characteristic of loneliness: It is contagious. Older adults who feel lonesome are more prone to behave in ways that may cause other people to not want to be around them. Researchers found that solitary seniors have a tendency to further isolate themselves by pushing people away and not making efforts to engage with others. Furthermore, the few people that lonely seniors interact with are likely to become lonely themselves and follow the same path to the outskirts of their social networks. This has serious implications on the health and social lives of family members who are caring for lonely seniors. Ways to Alleviate Loneliness Smith feels optimistic that there are many things that can be done to rectify this situation. “It’s so easy to combat loneliness in the elderly, but caregivers have to be willing to get up and make it happen,” she says. Here are a few ways you can help alleviate loneliness in your elderly loved one:
Updated 3/5/2018
3 Comments
3/23/2019 07:27:28 pm
According to studies, loneliness is very in demand once you get really old. They felt a lot of depression and they self pity. One of the reasons why I do not want to get in the 50's due to this situation. I am afraid that I will be burdened with my kids and my family. I do not want them to feel like I am a burden. Loneliness has a lot of roots and I guess coping up with this is very hard.
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4/1/2019 12:02:53 am
I can't really blame my husband everytime he abandons me. I was very vocal about not taking our marriage seriously. I cry each time I hear or watch anything that has to do with weddings. How come there are women like them who looked so happy on their wedding day? Mine is just a huge revenge plot and sadly I really don't know who to blame. If there is one thing here on Earth I want the most, it's not really to get out of this marriage, but for my husband to at least be kind.
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7/25/2019 02:09:21 am
My grandmother also experiencing this phase. My grandfather died years ago and I was unhappy for her to be left here on Earth. It is not that I want her to die already, but I guess that she would be happier if she is with my grandfather. I do not want to reach that stage. As a matter of fact, I am okay even if I just reach 40-50’s. I can see that she is lonely, not just because of my grandfather died but because she do not have companion since we are all busy at work.
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About the AuthorBarbara Chalmers enjoyed a challenging career serving the Department of Defense as a contract manager and negotiator. Over time she assumed leadership roles that enhanced equal employment opportunity within her agency and improved fundraising techniques for the Combined Federal Campaign. Her volunteer activities included participation in children’s reading programs and teaching classes at the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance. Barbara currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Parkinson Association Santa Barbara and the Carriage Hill Homeowners Association, and is a proud blogger for Caring Companions of Santa Barbara. Categories |