Sources of loneliness and what you can do

by ElderCarelink

With very, very few exceptions, no one likes to be alone. For the elderly, dealing with the loss of friends and spouses can make them particularly susceptible to feelings of loneliness. In a six-year study, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, asked over 1,600 adults age 60 and older about feelings of isolation, lacking meaningful contact and being left out, and the findings make one point very clearly: loneliness can be a serious health issue.

Over the course of the study, the group of elderly men and women who reported feelings of loneliness were roughly twice as likely to have declines in their ability to complete simple tasks like bathing, dressing and eating. These adults were also 45 percent more likely to die than their more connected counterparts. Rather than letting your parent or loved one live in a constant "I don't want to be a bother" state of isolation, resigned to passing quickly and quietly, you can take steps to combat this issue.

Stay in touch. They might not be ready to move in with you, but they definitely want to stay in contact. Make time for dinner, chats over coffee and quality family time.Help them make new friends. An adult daycare center is a great option for taking the weight of caregiving off of your shoulders for a few hours a day and getting your parents or loved ones connected to more people their age.

Encourage love. Whether it's a romantic relationship, a new pet to dote over or a young grandchild to spoil, love is the silver bullet for loneliness. Encourage it, and help it grow.

Don't make your first (or last) chat with your loved be about health issues. Start sharing the love today.