Loneliness in Senior Adults

livewell
October 20, 2023
sarah brodsky

Introduction

It doesn’t matter how many contacts you have; loneliness is the feeling of being alone. Lack of social relationships is known as social isolation. Some people can get lonely because of social isolation, whereas others can become lonely even when they are not socially isolated. In the United States, loneliness and social isolation among older persons pose substantial public health problems that put many people at risk for dementia and other serious medical diseases. Because they are prone to issues including being alone, friends or family loss, having chronic illnesses, and vision or hearing loss, people of old age are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness.

Several Important Causes of Loneliness in Older People

Elderly loneliness can be caused by several things. When a senior loses a partner or retires and misses the daily touch with their former coworkers, they may become lonely. Loneliness can occasionally strike for no apparent cause. If they suffer from certain physical conditions, such as chronic illnesses like cancer or degenerative brain diseases, seniors may experience loneliness. Seniors may experience loneliness for several reasons, including:

Loss of social network and friends
Retirement
No transportation
A change in living circumstances Being unable to actively perform their everyday tasks
Financial challenges
Bad physical condition
Apprehension of becoming a burden

Symptoms Your Elder Is Experiencing the Loneliness Phase

The following are warning indicators of loneliness in seniors that you should watch out for:

Discussion of it

Seniors may confide in you or, in rare situations, may even say it out loud that they feel lonely. Most of the time, you may need to watch out for small indications, including when your loved ones let you know they don’t really have someone to chat to.

Imaginary medical conditions

Your loved ones might lie to you about their health or complain about fictitious illnesses to attract your attention. Don’t confront them if you observe that they are being increasingly dishonest.

Appetite Deficit

If seniors feel lonely, they could lose their appetite. Even while this change might be typical as we age, it’s still important to pay attention to whether it’s also accompanied by other loneliness-related symptoms.

Changes in Behavior

Seniors who experience loneliness may withdraw and stop interacting with others, or they may become more in need of physical touch.

Severing the Bond

Another indication of loneliness is a decline in phone calls. When lonely elders reach this point, they have changed their expectations for assistance and no longer seek out new relationships.

Effects of Long-Term Loneliness on Seniors

Long-term loneliness can negatively affect a person’s health and interfere with their ability to lead a normal life.

Senior folks have a high death rate, which is linked to loneliness.
Thousands of people stop speaking and enter a state of total quiet.
The decline in cognitive function and the onset of dementia are both risk factors for loneliness and may be a contributing factor.
Loneliness is frequently linked to unpleasant emotions like grief, discomfort, or low self-worth.
Seniors who are lonely are more likely to develop mental illnesses like depression.

Diseases Associated with Loneliness and Depression

Strong correlations exist between loneliness and depression, and it may even be a standalone risk factor. Additionally, loneliness appears to have a substantial negative influence on physical health as it has been related over time in the elderly to poorer sleep, higher blood pressure, impaired cognition, and immunological stress responses. There is a relative lack of effective, empirically supported treatments for loneliness. Some other health issues may include:

Addiction to bad stuff
Suicidality and self-harm
Earlier death
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease and stroke
Dementia

Statistics on Older People who are Depressed

Most older folks are not depressed, which is wonderful news. Major depressive disorder is estimated to affect less than 1% to 5% of older adults living in the community, although it can reach 13.5 percent and 11.5 percent among elderly hospital patients who need home treatment.

How Loneliness Differs in Older Adults

Older folks are more vulnerable. According to our knowledge, 50% of older people have two or more chronic health conditions, and roughly 80% of them have one or more. People who additionally have other ailments (such heart disease or cancer) or whose function is restricted are more likely to experience loneliness and depression.

How to Help Seniors Get Over Loneliness

Seniors who feel lonely can be helped in several ways.

Encourage elders to embrace a positive body image by offering straightforward praises and encouraging remarks.
Dine and converse with them.
Encourage them to develop interpersonal relationships.
Invite them to a yoga class or schedule a get-together with friends to keep them occupied.
Don’t completely isolate them; visit them frequently.
Schedule a gaming night for them.
Bring them along on occasion.

In the past 20 years, loneliness levels in elderly individuals have remained stable. More women than men reported feeling lonely. Most factors related to loneliness remained consistent over time. Psychological distress and widowhood were found to have the strongest connections. It’s important to remember that every situation is different, and that loneliness is a problem that is commonly ignored. Take time today to look for the warning signs mentioned above because you never know what your loved ones may be going through.