Loneliness negatively affects the health of the person experiencing it. This is especially true for older adults.
While loneliness is frequently a result of isolation, this is not always the case. A study by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that two-thirds of research participants (60 years and older) who said they were lonely were married or living with a partner. This suggests it is the quality, not the quantity, of relationships that contribute to a person’s wellbeing.
Community is the answer
One of the most interesting presentations on the effects of loneliness was given by Lissa Rankin, MD, during her TED Talk, “Living in Community with Others Creates Our Best Life.” She says social isolation places the nervous system in threat mode, causing the release of hormones that predispose the body to disease.
Rankin says a person who feels alone is much more likely to be predisposed to illnesses that include:
- Heart disease
- Infection
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Dementia
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Suicide
- Addiction
While Rankin presents many facts about loneliness and isolation, the most frightening one is probably this: Loneliness is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
The following ideas can be used by family and friends to help an older adult avoid isolation by staying connected, or to reconnect a senior who is currently isolated or feeling lonely:
- If the senior is living alone, arrange for a relative or friend to visit them or call once or twice a week. If enough people are involved, the senior’s social calendar will be full!
- If you or other family members are unable to visit due to distance, make a phone call, send a card, or do both!
- Encourage those who visit your senior family member to ask questions and listen. This interaction can go far in helping the person feel appreciated and heading off loneliness.
- Help your loved one rekindle a past interest. Ask what hobbies they used to be involved with and help them rediscover those hobbies. For instance, sign them up for a ballroom dancing class (you can escort them to the class and participate too!) Maybe find a book club or start one! Just use your imagination and make a connection.
Loneliness is a disease; connections and community are the cures. At Meth-Wick, we fight loneliness through our WelTracs program, which was developed to create health and wellness programs that match our resident’s needs and preferences. If you are fighting loneliness or know someone who is, explore the many resources available to seniors in the Cedar Rapids community, including Meth-Wick.