Episode 48 – Isolation and Seniors

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As COVID-19 rates continue to surge, many isolated seniors are facing a second epidemic: loneliness. Because so many seniors live alone, the elderly in the United States have been disproportionately impacted by loneliness for decades, but the pandemic has only made this problem worse.

It hurts to think of our parents or grandparents as lonely – especially when we aren’t able to visit with them the way we used to. Still, this is something we must acknowledge. The hard truth is that the number of seniors in isolation continues to rise. And loneliness is not merely undesired. It can actually have devastating effects on health. That’s why it’s so important that we can identify signs of loneliness in our loved ones and get them the help they need.

Loneliness, by the way, isn’t just a problem for seniors. Many family members who step into the role of caregiver will experience loneliness. Often, this major life change happens quickly and unexpectedly. The balance between personal life and caregiver life can be easily blurred, or you may not feel you have any balance at all. In this episode, we’ll go over ways to combat loneliness for seniors and caregivers alike.

There is hope – even during a pandemic. But to find it, we need to be informed.

Loneliness in seniors is getting worse. AARP recently reported that “millions of older adults across the country struggle with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and a lack of regular companionship.” These high numbers only seem to be growing. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 27% of adults over the age of 60 live by themselves. At the same time, an AARP survey by the University of Michigan found that 1 in 4 people complain of feeling isolated from time to time, while 1 in 3 say they “lack regular companionship.”

For those who only socialized once a week or less, loneliness was reported in higher numbers. On the other hand, seniors who said that they are socially active several times a week, were far less likely to report feeling isolated.

There are many reasons for seniors to feel especially lonely. As their independence dwindles, so do their options. If they have trouble moving, it can feel too difficult to get to social events, and it may even be impossible to leave the house. At the same time, a lack of mobility can damage a person’s dignity. It’s common for an older adult to isolate himself, simply because he doesn’t want friends or family to witness his new struggles.

When a senior can no longer drive, isolation is probable. Driving goes hand in hand with freedom – and without access to a car, attending social events and leaving the house is far more difficult. If your loved one is no longer driving, make sure to offer her rides or find another solution to help her leave the house and keep her world more open.

The elderly may also feel more alone if they have no family in the area and the health of their friends is declining. The sad reality is that seniors have to face the loss of friends and even spouses far more often. If visiting with friends is simply not an option, due to poor health, and family can only visit once a month – feelings of loneliness are pretty much inevitable.

The pandemic has only made this harder. As seniors are urged to stay at home, they are facing limited interactions with friends or family – if they have any at all. The University of Michigan poll found that a staggering 56% of elderly people reported feeling isolated in June of 2020. In a December 2020 survey by A Place For Mom, “62% of adult children caring for their parents or elderly relatives say their loved one has suffered physically or mentally from isolation during the pandemic.” Clearly, the pandemic has paved the way for an epidemic of loneliness.

There are certain demographics of seniors that are more likely to experience loneliness. The CDC explains that LGBT people, immigrants, minorities, and victims of elder abuse are especially vulnerable. For immigrants, language barriers, cultural differences, and family members who live internationally, all contribute to loneliness. For LGBT and minorities, discrimination can mean added challenges to finding care.

Women are another demographic that face loneliness in higher numbers. Often, women live longer than their husbands and have a smaller income. The median income of women over the age of 65 is $18,380. For men, that number is closer to $32,000. This means that many women lack the necessary funding to hire caregivers or move into an assisted living facility.   

Finally, caregivers, too, are a population that suffers from loneliness. Family caregivers, especially, struggle to get used to their new routine – and might spend less time with friends or family because they don’t want to leave their loved one. During the pandemic, they might not even have a choice. Tamara Lynn Meadows, the divisional director of clinical operations in Oklahoma at Stonegate Living, explained that many caregivers turn to respite care when they need a break. She said in an interview that, “we get calls all the time from families and even hospices or home health care agencies looking for a place of respite for the senior in their care. They’re either worn out or in need of a vacation.”

So, why does loneliness matter so much? Well, loneliness can actually have devastating effects on health. Lonely seniors have a higher chance of experiencing high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, cognitive disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease. AARP senior vice president Alison Bryant warned that “social isolation and loneliness are as bad for our health as obesity and smoking.”

Steve Cole, PhD, is the director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles. He explained to the National Institute of Aging the reason that isolation can impact physical health. “Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases. The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease.

Loneliness promotes several different types of wear and tear on the body.” At the same time, lonely people have a higher chance of having weakened immune cells that are not equipped to fight off viruses. Perhaps most disturbingly, seniors who are lonely are at a much higher risk of morality.

Loneliness has other effects on physical health, too. People who are lonely are more likely to feel depressed – and therefore take up unhealthy habits like drinking, smoking, or stress eating. This can lead to obesity, lung diseases, and alcoholism.

At the same time, those who experience regular socialization, tend to have a better bill of health. Not only are these folks not being biologically impacted by isolation, but they also have healthier habits – such as keeping up with a balanced diet and exercise.

Clearly, loneliness is a great risk to our loved ones – for more reasons than one. So, we want to make sure that we can identify the triggers of loneliness and intervene, before it’s too late.

If your loved one is living alone and rarely socializes, they are likely suffering from over-isolation. This is perhaps one of the easier triggers to identify, because we know if our loved one is living alone.

It’s important to look for less obvious triggers as well, though. These might include the recent loss of a spouse or even a friend. Losing a loved one is devastating for anyone – but for seniors, it can feel like the world is colliding in. That’s because their friends and spouses might be the only people they have who can truly relate to what they are going through as they age.

At the same time, if an older adult loses a spouse, they are likely going from a life spent with another person, to a living alone for the very first time. That’s a shocking feeling that some people never truly get used to. Grief can lead to depression – so if your loved one is going through a loss, make sure that you are able to visit with them or take other steps to combat their isolation.

A decline in health might also lead a family member to feeling isolated – even if they live with other people. When a person struggles with memory, or is diagnosed with a new disease, they are likely to feel scared and alone. Just like grief, health issues mean a major life transition – and everything seems harder to do.

If you believe your loved one might be experiencing a trigger to loneliness, don’t be afraid to speak with them directly about it. When you open up a space for them to talk safely about their feelings, you can come up with a solution together. And, by talking, you are reminding your loved one that they still have a person who loves them on their side.

While combatting loneliness during a pandemic might feel impossible, there is hope. There are many ways that an adult child can help their parent to be socialized. You don’t want to wait to begin helping your parent get back out there. After all, the longer a person is lonely, the harder it might be to get them back on track again.

If you can’t be with your parent on a regular basis, encourage him or her to take walks and get some fresh air. No, this might not lead directly to socialization, but exercise will help them to fight depression. Not to mention, even something as simple as waving hello to a neighbor can help fight loneliness. Outside on a walk, seniors have a good chance of running into community members and engaging in social-distant conversation. Even the simplest connections can work wonders.

Never be afraid to reach out. Under normal circumstances, planning visits as often as possible is a great way to help your parent or grandparent get socialization. Bringing their grandchildren along can especially brighten the mood. Try to have some fun activities planned for the visit – like taking a nature walk, painting, or having a movie night. Even if you aren’t sure how to spend the time, though, just being together is enough. You can visit with your loved ones even during the pandemic – but you must quarantine for a minimum of ten days before you do so.

Of course, quarantining isn’t always possible. If you’re an essential worker who has to leave the house, or you’re a parent with young kids to tend to, visiting your loved one simply might not be an option. In this case, be sure to take advantage of technology. Elderly people need more than one day a week of socialization, so Facetime as often as possible. Play board games over Zoom. Have movie watch nights on Netflix.

Of course, technology can’t compare to the real thing – but it can still make strides in helping your loved one’s empty house feel a little bit fuller. If you have children, you can arrange Zoom bedtime stories with their grandparents – in which your child reads to your grandparent, or your grandparent reads to your child. Don’t be afraid to get creative – and don’t assume that a lack of physical visitations means no visitations at all.

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Sources:

https://homecareassistance.com/blog/the-impact-loneliness-and-isolation-has-on-senior-brains

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2019/study-isolation-health-risks.html

 

https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/senior-isolation-facts

 

https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks

 

https://www.seniorlifestyle.com/resources/blog/what-is-senior-isolation/

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30061-X/fulltext

 

https://stonegatesl.com/one-is-the-loneliest-number-combating-senior-isolation/

 

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/loneliness-in-the-elderly-151549.htm

 

https://www.commonwisecare.com/how-elder-care-can-help-combat-loneliness/