Loneliness in the elderly is a life-threatening health issue. Yes, it is that grave. I will go one step further; it is an epidemic. Yes, it is that serious. With half of those in the United States aged 85 or older living alone, it is high time we address this issue head on.
Emotions and Perceptions
Unfortunately, frank admissions and discussions regarding loneliness carry stigma in our society. Somehow, people feel it indicates weakness rather than a natural need to interact like the need for sleep and food. Unfortunately, not opening up about these feelings only stuffs them underground leaving them unaddressed and to fester.
Loneliness deepens depression which is almost universal in our elderly population as their health, ability to be independent and vitality decline. Research out of the Netherlands found that the perception of loneliness is even more powerful than the actuality of isolation. Those feeling isolated had a 1.6 greater chance of developing dementia than those who were physically isolated but not bothered by it.
Medical Evidence
I have previously written about the value of socializing with respect to treating and arresting the progression of dementia (Memory Clubs May 3, 2016), but there are other physical benefits as well. There is more and more evidence that loneliness is linked to physical illness in addition to cognitive impairment. In 2015, research out of UC San Francisco showed that “loneliness was a predictor of functional decline and death.” Loneliness was defined as feeling left out, isolated and lacking companionship. The self-reported lonely experienced higher rates of declining mobility, a lessened ability to perform the activities of dialing living (ADLs) and even death during the course of the six-year study.
Research has shown that depression decreases the effectiveness of the immune system which is already compromised in the elderly. There is an increase in the stress hormone cortisol and blood pressure can be elevated as a result. Also, that means there is less efficient blood flow to vital organs. Interestingly, researchers at MIT found that dopamine neurons in the part of the brain related to depression become inactive in mice that have been isolated for as little as 24 hours, but re-activate when they are reunited with other mice.
What to Do
Socializing and participating in life is the key. In-person interaction seems to be more beneficial. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported on research that found that those who had face-to-face visits with friends or relatives experienced fewer symptoms of depression than those who kept up by phone or online. Younger seniors were happy with friends while those 70 or older benefited most from family.
Simply saying that socializing should be a priority begs the problem of logistics. Many cannot get out to socialize nor do they have contemporaries nearby to visit with.
Luckily, many senior centers recognize this and factor transportation into their programs.
There are online opportunities for meeting up. Though not as beneficial, they are good proxies. Of course, they are not for technophobic seniors.
An appropriate pet, by that I mean easy to care for, may also be a way to speak to a senior’s need for nurturing someone else.
A New Approach
In the UK, a not-for-profit organization was started, the Silver Line Helpline, to combat the problem of loneliness and isolation. Many people living alone and having outlived their family and friends simply do not have a living soul to speak to. Seniors can call into a telephone bank at any hour of the day or night and find someone on the other end to talk to. Amazingly, having started only threeyears ago, they get over 1,000 calls a day. Some people call when they get up to feel like someone cares they are around. There is even a program of regular partnerships where buddies are set up to speak to their adopted senior phone partner once a week or so for 30-60 minutes from the comfort of their own homes. The only requirement for the volunteer is an ability to listen. The results are life changing for both, but especially the senior. (Note: While we have a call-in Friendship Line out of the Institute on Aging in California, its emphasis is on crisis suicide prevention, a whole other problem.)
Bottom Line: Those who lack companionship are more likely to decline and die earlier. It is high time we set up integrative programs like the Silver Line Helpline on this side of the pond and prioritize the socializing needs of our elderly. Let me know if I can help!
Anita Kamiel, R.N, M.P.S. is the founder and owner of David York Home Healthcare Agency and is fully acquainted with all factors related to eldercare services and the latest guidelines for seniors. Thirty years ago, she realized the need for affordable, quality home health aide services provided and supervised by caring individuals. You can contact her at 718.376.7755 or at info@davidyorkagency.com. David York Agency is also on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.