Here’s a frightening fact: Many researchers have now linked chronic loneliness to increased rates of illness and even premature death. To be blunt about it, loneliness and social isolation may represent a greater public health hazard than obesity.
The impact of loneliness has been growing and will continue to grow, according to research presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA).
When we make people feel lonely they also get sadder, but loneliness is feeling like there are no longer any friends or aid at a senior’s disposal. Research shows loneliness makes them feel terrible.
It’s bad for their mental health: well-being goes down, depressive symptoms go up, the likelihood of developing mental and affective disorders increases. It’s also bad for their physical health.
In a meta-analysis of 3 million people, with controlled for confounding factors such as demographics and objective isolation, loneliness increased odds of early death by 26%, according to the APA.
Rather than having widows or widowers who are most likely to feel lonely living alone, shared living is a relatively new option to not only provide the needed care and comfort seniors need but can help address this growing problem throughout the world.
The concept of shared living is growing with concepts like “Homeshare UK”, “Senior Home Sharing in America” and “Eldershare” in Malaysia.
By sharing a home, seniors get to socialize with others, keep busy with activities, and even reduce their living expenses by sharing the rental fees, food costs, utilities and having a live-in caregiver which Eldershare provides.
While home sharing may not be for everyone, it’s certainly one option to take a look at, and it sure is a lot better than putting an older person into a nursing home. Even “daycare” for older adults is a growing concept with nursing homes now beginning to offer this option.
Drop them off in the morning and pick them up after work. This is another worthwhile option to consider. Finally, remember organising parties for children or “play dates” for them?
Well, the same thing can be done for auntie or uncle or grandparents. Call up friends and have them bring their elderly over.
Remember we don’t have to go it alone. There are many resources on line. In fact, there are even a few Facebook groups focused on senior care and resources including Seniors Aloud and Ageing Alone Malaysia. Good luck!
This article was written by Andrew Mastrandonas, Co-founder & CEO of Pillar (www.pillarcare.com) and reviewed by Dr Lim Geng Yan (M.D). Pillar provides a range of elderly home caregiving services, sending trained and certified professional caregivers and nurses to clients’ homes. For more information please visit https://care.pillarcare.com/fmtpromo