The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors. Among many obvious contributors to poor health in the elderly – such as lifestyle, past injuries, or limited access to medical care – there is one factor which may not be immediately obvious but has a significant impact on overall health: isolation.
With old age comes an increased risk of isolation as the older adult becomes less mobile and his or her peers and older relatives pass away. It is clear how this likely has an emotional impact on the elder, but what might be less obvious is that this emotional effect influences the elder’s physical health. By addressing isolation and helping an older adult find more pathways to social interaction, the elder’s overall health can be improved and their cost of care may be reduced. Benefits of Socialization A February 2 article in The Guardian extols the virtues of nonprofit “befriending” programs for the elderly in the UK and notes the economic impact of such programs for the National Health System (NHS). Loneliness in Seniors - Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation in Older Adults. In today's tech centered world, staying in touch with friends and family members from all over the country has never been easier.
With just a few clicks of a mouse or a text on your phone, you can stay connected with individuals from across the world. However, even with all of this technology, there are many seniors today who live in complete social isolation and who deal with dire loneliness. This problem has become an epidemic in the senior community. As more seniors than ever are dealing with extreme loneliness, the effects are more severe than many ever thought. As caregivers, friends, and family members of seniors, it is important to be aware of the effects that loneliness can have on seniors. How Lonely Are Seniors Today? There has been a great deal of research done on the topic of loneliness among seniors. In addition to these findings, a study from the AARP also found that many seniors today face social issues that only add to their feelings of isolation and loneliness. How it affects the elderly's development. If Only Singaporeans Stopped to Think: Social isolation: Senior citizens living with family, but still feeling lonely.
Research finds that having a companion their own age boosts seniors' health, well-being By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 27 Dec 2018 Most of Madam Teek Mohmod's life has revolved around her family, especially caring for her parents towards the end of their lives.The demands of keeping her household going meant she saw less and less of her friends.
After her husband died last year, she found herself very much alone. "I felt very lonely," said the housewife, 64, who has an adult son but lives alone in Yishun. "When I looked after my mother and father and all their expenses, it was very hard to go out and meet friends. "It was only after she was introduced to a "wellness kampung" for seniors in her neighbourhood that she made new friends, and began to feel less troubled. Keep seniors active; watch out for warning signs By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 27 Dec 2018How do you make sure that your older family members are not feeling lonely?
How Relationships Impact Quality of Life for Seniors - Senior LIFE. Loneliness might not come to mind when you think of conditions that can impact health and quality of life for seniors.
But in fact, research has found that loneliness may be as harmful as some medical conditions and can even lead to early death. Those findings, which were presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, found that loneliness and social isolation are a major public health hazard. And it’s an issue that’s especially common among older adults. The AARP found that more than 40 million adults older than age 45 are suffering from chronic loneliness. That may seem odd, given that in many ways, we’re more connected to others by technology than ever before. But many older adults either don’t have access to a computer or simply don’t use the Internet.
What’s the bottom line? Read on for a look at how socialization impacts quality of life and some ways to include social activities in daily life. Some friends may move away. Some ideas are quite simple. How it affects the elderly's development.