Bye, Bye Loneliness…

Loneliness is the feeling of being disconnected from others, especially feeling the lack of affection and closeness that positive social relationships provide. Loneliness can be experienced at any age, but is exacerbated during forced isolation (COVID), and there is a higher incidence in older adults.(1)

Health risks

Persistent loneliness is associated with under-appreciated health risks, including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cognitive decline and dementia. Loneliness can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, worse for you than obesity and may increase your risk of death by 26%.(2)

COVID-19

While it’s true for all age groups, the COVID-19 pandemic has especially exacerbated the problem of loneliness for seniors.(3) What can be done?

Recommendations

Our friends at Harvard share 7 tips for preventing personal loneliness and helping a loved one who’s experiencing it.(4)

1. Connect meaningfully with family and friends, in ways that work best for you: by phone, video chat or talking in person at a safe distance, if possible.

2. Practice thankfulness. Share with family and friends, on a regular basis, the things you are thankful for and your appreciation of their presence in your life.

3. Focus on what you can change. Think about something in your life that you’d like to change that you can control and work on changing it. Examples: eating a good breakfast, going to bed earlier, taking a 10-minute daily walk, decluttering your desk.

4. Be busy doing something you enjoy. Now is the perfect time to do something you’ve always wanted to do: finish that uncompleted project, read that special book, take an online course, master a new hobby.

5. Nix negativity. Negativity amplifies loneliness, so make sure your relationships and activities bring you joy, not frustration or fear. Consider taking a break from the news and social media, or at least limiting the amount of time you spend.

6. Be patient, kind and understanding. These are unusually challenging times,  so practice compassion toward yourself and others. Kind, understanding interactions may help others and may result in deeper connections.

7. Develop a new routine that is balanced and includes connectedness. Create a daily plan that is balanced, including time for preparing healthy food, physical activity and other healthy habits, time for connecting with loved ones, time for your project and/or hobby and time for enjoyable relaxation. This is pivotal for overcoming loneliness, so take the time to write out your new plan and put it in a conspicuous place.

References

1. Ong AD, Uchino BN, Wethington E. Loneliness and Health in Older Adults: A Mini-Review and Synthesis. Gerontology. 2016;62(4):443-449. doi:10.1159/000441651

2. https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/the-facts-on-loneliness/

3. https://www.massgeneral.org/news/coronavirus/helping-seniors-manage-loneliness-and-anxiety-during-covid-19

4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-can-you-help-a-loved-one-suffering-from-loneliness-2020090420855?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BF20200914-AgingInPlace&utm_id=2399456&dlv-emuid=dc210c07-c399-4aa7-83d1-4dab28047e1e&dlv-mlid=2399456