Isolation can be an issue at any point of a person’s life but it is a particularly significant issue as people age. At the same time, senior isolation can have more of an impact than most people realize.
Because of this, caregivers need to be able to identify indications of isolation within seniors and determine ways to increase the social interaction that seniors experience. In some cases, this may involve getting the senior involved in a new hobby or activity. Many senior centers also offer a wide range of different programs and events that can help in this area.
In seniors, isolation can occur for a number of reasons.
Often this may happen because a senior’s ability to get around decreases. One example of this is how some seniors are unable to drive, forcing them to rely on alternative options for transportation. At the same time, other seniors may find walking difficult or painful or may face other issues, like incontinence, which may make the process of going out more difficult.
Some seniors may also end up isolated because they suffer from depression or another health issues that makes them less interested in social interaction.
It’s also important to note that a senior can still be isolated if they live with other people.
For example, a senior living with one of their children still has few people their own age to talk to. Furthermore, they may be on their own for a significant proportion of the day as family members go about their own lives.
Understanding the reason behind the isolation can play a role in helping the senior to get more social involved. However, many of the risks of senior isolation remain the same regardless of the cause of that isolation.
Here are some of the most significant risks to be aware of.
Isolation Can Increase the Risk of Death
This effect is true both for social isolation and also for loneliness.
Researchers have not determined the precise mechanism behind this effect, but human relationships have been associated with overall health and well-being, including both mental and physical health (1).
For example, social interaction can help to relieve stress and stress is an issue that can have impacts on a range of biological functions and reactions.
Additionally, isolated seniors also tend to have fewer places to turn to for help.
So, if they experience a significant physical issue, they may not be able to contact anyone to get medical attention.
In a similar way, isolated seniors may find themselves needing to do things that they should not be doing physically.
For example, a senior may end up going out when they are sick when it is snowing because they need groceries or because bills need to be paid. Approaches like that could significantly compromise the health of the senior but if they are isolated, they may have few other options.
Loneliness May Contribute to Cognitive Issues
People who are lonely tend to have poorer cognition overall and can also experience faster cognitive decline (2). Social isolation and loneliness have also been associated with an increased risk of dementia (3).
This effect may be connected to the way that interacting with others challenges our minds, forcing people to remain mentally active and alert. In contrast, a person that does not interact frequently with others may often not challenge their mind.
Loneliness Can Increase Depression Risk
Research has consistently shown that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms and this effect isn’t just limited to seniors (4).
This outcome suggests that loneliness can be a significant issue that contributes to a poorer quality of life as well as subsequent health issues.
In some ways, this pattern is not a major surprise, as a lonely or isolated person has more time to think about their problems and the parts of life that they struggle with.
Based on this, it is easy to see how isolation and loneliness could contribute to depression.
Loneliness Can Affect the Caregiver too
A surprising risk of loneliness is that can affect caregivers as well, along with other people in a person’s social circle.
For example, if a senior is lonely, they will often also be resistant to going out and engaging in social activities. This may increase the amount of time the caregiver spends caring for them and decrease the amount of social interaction that the caregiver receives.
Over time, this can mean that the caregiver themselves gets very little social interaction and it can be difficult for either the senior or the caregiver to break this pattern.
At the same time, people who are lonely are more likely to have negative social interactions, which reinforces the sense of loneliness. Furthermore, people will often want little to do with a person who is lonely and this can make the issue more difficult to resolve.
Loneliness Can Increase Blood Pressure
Loneliness might be a mental symptom but it can have physical implications. In particular, one study found that loneliness was associated with increased blood pressure in seniors and middle-aged adults (5).
This is an especially concerning risk of senior isolation because high blood pressure has the potential to have other health implications, including increasing the risk of heart disease.
These risks, along with other risks and issues, strongly suggest that loneliness is a much more significant health issue than most people realize and is an issue that caregivers need to address.
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