Erie Seniors Suffering from Loneliness Are At Risk of Health Problems and Premature Death
Lack of contact with others is a serious issue among seniors.
Sometimes, a senior has no local network of family and friends, and feels disconnected from his or her community. Other times, a senior may withdraw into isolation as a result of health conditions, depression, or mental illness. Fear of falling can also keep a senior isolated in their home, as can fatigue, chronic pain, or shame over memory problems. As a result, older adults may be alone for days or even weeks without someone to watch over them.
Health Problems Associated With Senior Loneliness:
- Loneliness Affects Seniors’ Brains and may speed up the onset of dementia.
- Loneliness Harms Seniors’ Hearts. The Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated a proven link between loneliness and heart disease.
- Loneliness Can Mean a Shorter Lifespan for Seniors
Ways You Can Help Protect Seniors from Loneliness
- Help seniors become more social-media savvy through their use of email, news sites and sites of interest
- Provide companionship with conversation and activities such as cooking and eating together, reading aloud to the senior, playing games, scrapbooking, listening to music, or taking a walk.
- Provide transportation to seniors so they may visit family and friends, go shopping, attend events, and visit outdoor venues such as parks.
- Help a loved one find support and/or social groups at senior centers, YMCAs, places of worship ─ wherever seniors tend to gather.
Isolation and loneliness are key signs that a senior lacks the support and tools needed to live a healthy, independent life and may be spiraling into decline.
BrightStar Care of Erie is here to help.
We offer
Companion Care Services focusing on improving the health and well-being of your aging loved ones so they can get the most out of life. We strive to get to know our clients’ unique histories and personalities so we can plan activities that will be both stimulating and enjoyable.
