{ } Loneliness…
AGING
with an
Attitude
I
n a recent Wall Street Journal
article, authors Janet Adamy and
Paul Overberg note that baby
boomers are aging alone more than any
generation in U.S. history. Based on
census fi gures and other research, they
note that one in eleven Americans, aged
50 and older, lacks a spouse, partner
or living child. According to a lone-
liness survey conducted by AARP in
2010, one in three people claim to be
lonely. In a 2018 study conducted by
Stanford, Harvard and AARP, a reported
8 million Americans do not have any
close relatives—the main source of
companionship in old age. in self-loathing. Lonely people are also
more likely to engage in self-destructive
behavior (e.g. smoking, use of drugs,
even promiscuity).
Remember that saying, “it takes a
village.” A collaborative effort could
help those who are affected with lone-
liness. Imagine the impact we could
make if all of us made a commitment
to help. The only cost would be that
of time!
In her 2016 blog posting featured
on the A Place for Mom website, Dana
Larsen notes things you can do today to
combat senior isolation. Here are of few
of the items she noted:
Loneliness is often downplayed:
“Oh, Mom is okay, she is just lonely.”
For the most part, our society just does
not get how loneliness can affect one’s
health and can even be linked to early
death. It can actually be as lethal as
drinking six alcoholic beverages a day
or smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Meyer,
2018). It has been linked to clinical
depression, high blood pressure, and
several chronic illnesses. As a matter of
fact, Medicare spends nearly 7 billion
dollars a year on hospitalization and
nursing facilities for older adults who
do not have a close friend or relative to
turn to (Harvard University, Stanford
University and AARP, 2018).
One of the things indicative of lone-
liness is a loss of appetite—choosing
to survive by eating junk food or
worse, not eating at all—opening up
the possibility for lethargy, cognitive
decline and/or malnutrition. And, at
the height of loneliness, becoming
sedentary; losing the motivation to do
anything. A lonely person may easily
become “glued to the couch,” suffering
from sleep disturbances or engaging Promote a Sense of Purpose
Encourage your loved ones to pur-
sue an interest. A good way for them
to dip their toes in the social waters
is to take a class in an area they are
interested in, or participate in a group
outing. Provide them opportunities to
volunteer. Even if they do not want to
volunteer, having them attend events
at the local senior center or enrolling
them in a class they might enjoy is an
excellent way for them to get involved.
62
will get their blood moving in addition
to increasing their fl exibility and
strength — and also helps give them a
positive body image to want to interact
with others and be social.
Keep Up Doctor Visits
Preventive health is essential for
seniors. Addressing health issues like
hearing and vision loss can make the
difference between a senior being aware
of their environment and being able to
interact as they normally would.
Here are a few I would add:
• If you moved your parent to be near
you, be patient. They are no longer as
resilient as you are. Moving from an
environment where you spent most of
your adult life is no less traumatic than
an oak tree being uprooted after 50
years!
• Be kind – smile at people, say a kind
word. “See” people, acknowledge them
– this can do wonders for a socially
isolated individual.
• Introduce them to a neighbor they
may like. Some families start with a
“safe alternative” by hiring a caregiver
who can provide companionship,
engagement. (A trusted caregiver who
has your parent’s trust can open the
door to socialization).
Make Transportation Available
Anything that helps seniors get around
and make independent choices about
travel promotes social health. This is
key their feelings of connectedness
and independence.
Get Them a Pet
Pet therapy is medicinal: it can actually
lower anxiety and blood pressure, boost
memory and contribute to mood and a
sense of wellbeing. So, visit your local
shelter to walk an equally lonely dog—
just visit, or bring home a precious pet.
• If you have a child who participates
in school events, there are tasks an
older adult can help with that provide
people interface (selling tickets at the
Encourage Exercise —
Especially benefi cial to seniors, exercise
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
gmhtoday.com
Written by Dorie Sugay,
the Executive Director of
Visiting Angels.