Coronavirus: Elderly hit hard by social isolation amid circuit breaker measures, Health News
A needle and the television set - these two objects have been keeping 83-year-old Nellie Woo company from morning to night for the past week while she is holed up alone at home. She used to enjoy playing bingo and exercising with her elderly neighbours at the Senior Activity Centre (SAC) downstairs, as well as chatting with volunteers who visited her studio flat. Now that all activities for seniors - including home visits - have ceased due to strict circuit breaker measures, Madam Woo is feeling lonely and emotionally down.
Loneliness and social isolation are important health risks in the elderly
Social isolation and loneliness have long been the focus of research. Recently, these issues have also been gaining increased attention from policymakers and the media. In Canada, the National Council of Seniors declared social isolation among seniors as its priority area for 2013-14. In the United Kingdom, the “Campaign to End Loneliness” is tackling loneliness by disseminating research knowledge and providing service organizations with information on how to approach the issue. CBC Headlines like “One is the loneliness number”1 have brought these issues to the attention of the general public.
Helping The Elderly During This COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Season - Promises Healthcare
Dr Rajesh Jacob (Senior Consultant Psychiatrist @ Promises Healthcare) was interviewed by Tamil Murasu on 19th April about his views on ways we can help the elderly during this COVID 19 Circuit Breaker season. Here’s an English translation of that interview: 1.What kind of mental issues that the elderly can experience during a pandemic like COVID 2019
Relationship between elderly and younger family members deteriorating during Covid-19 lockdown: Survey
More than half of elderly people feel that their health is deteriorating and their relationship with family members, particularly with their sons and daughters, have further deteriorated during the Covid-19 lockdown, a survey has claimed. The survey of around 5,000 people over the phone by Agewell Foundation also claimed that every second elderly person was of the view that they are being mistreated, harassed, shouted at, threatened, neglected isolated or marginalised. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases Around 55% feel that that current lockdown situation is affecting their health condition adversely while 75% said that they missed the "healing touch of their doctor" while 43% have to avoid regular pathological check-ups all of a sudden. Among those surveyed, 54% are staying with their younger family members while 33% were living with their spouse and 13% were living all alone during the lockdown period.
Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks
Human beings are social creatures. Our connection to others enables us to survive and thrive. Yet, as we age, many of us are alone more often than when we were younger, leaving us vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness—and related health problems such as cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease. Fortunately, there are ways to counteract these negative effects. NIA-supported researchers are studying the differences between social isolation and loneliness, their mechanisms and risk factors, and how to help people affected by these conditions.
Social Isolation and Memory Decline in Later-life
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Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness – Aging Life Care Association™
Clifford Singer, MD Adjunct Professor, University of Maine Chief, Geriatric Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry Acadia Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center 268 Stillwater Avenue Bangor Maine 04402 207.973.6179 csinger@emhs.org Cliff Singer is a geriatrician and psychiatrist. He lives in Orono, Maine and directs the Mood and Memory Clinic at Acadia Hospital and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program for Acadia Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
14 Ways to Help Seniors Avoid Social Isolation -
A vast body of evidence demonstrates the physical benefits of a healthy social life. Conversely, loneliness and social isolation have been clearly linked to poor health outcomes. Numerous studies have shown that socially isolated seniors even have a shorter life expectancy.
Ways of Preventing Social Isolation Among Seniors
As seniors age, their lives can become more isolated. Their families are no longer at home with them, and they may begin to isolate themselves from the outside world because it has become more difficult for them to get out. Social isolation among seniors can also impact their health. A study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that seniors have a 26 percent higher death risk than the elderly that remain social.
The loneliness of social isolation can affect your brain and raise dementia risk in older adults
Physical pain is unpleasant, yet it’s vital for survival because it’s a warning that your body is in danger. It tells you to take your hand off a hot burner or to see a doctor about discomfort in your chest. Pain reminds us all that we need to take care of ourselves.
Social isolation and the elderly poor in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Her one-room flat was a cluttered mess, and Madam Helen Fernandez herself never seemed to bathe, said her neighbours who always saw her in the same set of clothes. When case workers first visited the unkempt and confused elderly widow, they had to rush her to hospital for very high blood pressure – which resulted because she hadn’t been taking her medication and had been missing doctors’ appointments. Since her husband died 17 years ago, Mdm Fernandez had been living alone with no friends or family – and slowly falling prey to loneliness and dementia. There were times when she’d even call up the police just to talk.
