Reducing Loneliness
Our relationships are very important for our general health and well-being. Unfortunately, when this need goes unmet there can be serious mental and physical health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, depression, and dementia. In the US, more than a quarter of older adults and nearly half of women over the age of 75 live alone[i]. Social isolation is considered a risk factor for loneliness, the subjective feeling of being alone. People who live with others, especially if the relationships are of poor quality or strained, can also feel lonely, regardless of the frequency of social contact. Older adults often face several life transitions that can put one at risk for loneliness, such as retirement, vision and hearing loss, accessibility issues, health problems, and children leaving the nest[ii].
Take a Self Assessment:
What can you do if you feel lonley?
- Don’t rely on technology to fill your need for social interactions. Whether you are scrolling, commenting, or posting, it is passive – rather than interactive. Even chatting online isn’t quite the same as chatting over the telephone. Online chat is less intimate and can be prone to misinterpretation. Communication is more than words—voice tone, body language, and facial expressions make up a large and meaningful parts of communication. Research examining social media use among older adults is mixed, at best, with some studies showing support for reducing isolation and increasing connection, while others have not found the same connection[i].
- Telephone, video or in-person contact is definitely better than social media. The state of Utah has provided information about how to connect with others through video: (https://coronavirus.utah.gov/community-resources/#column-staying-connected).
- Call a friend or family member and ask how they are doing. You don’t have to say you’re feeling lonely, just reach out to someone else to check-in. Odds are, they are feeling lonely too.
- Check-in on a neighbor, offer help, wave and say ‘hello’ – be neighborly!
- Connect with your local community aging programs – while senior centers may not currently be fully functional, many are offering alternatives ways to connect.
- Find your local Area Agency on Aging: https://daas.utah.gov/locations-new/
- Find your local senior center: https://daas.utah.gov/locations-old/senior-centers/
- Volunteer—look around in your community, your church, your neighborhood for opportunities to provide service and help others (https://userve.utah.gov/volunteer-opportunities/). There are also opportunities to volunteer while maintaining physical distance from others.
- Attend a virtual event: https://www.nowplayingutah.com/categories/virtual/
- Join a group with others who have similar interests, such as hiking, playing pinochle, or speaking French. If your interest is not represented—you can even start a group: https://meetup.com
- There are also several toll-free numbers you can reach out to for support:
- The Friendship Line is a 24-hour toll-free hotline supported by the Institute on Aging. 800-971-0016
- The Emotional Health Relief Hotline is available through Intermountain Health Care, 833-442-2211
- The SAGE National LGBT Elder Hotline provides support for LGBT older adults or those who care for an LGBT individual.
- 877-630-LGBT(5428)
Loneliness and social isolation can have dramatic impacts on our lives. If you or someone you know if feeling lonely – please reach out, you’re not alone.
[i] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25663
Sources:
[i] Administration for Community Living (2020). Profile of Older Americans. Accessed at: https://acl.gov/aging-and-disability-in-america/data-and-research/profile-older-americans
[ii] Holt-Lunstad, J. (2018). The potential public health relevance of social isolation and loneliness: Prevalence, epidemiology, and risk factors. Public Policy & Aging Report, 27(4)4 Pages 127–130. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prx030