Seniors Social Isolation and Depression

4/9/2020

Lifestyle Changes and COVID-19

Don't Let Isolation Be A Friend

Social isolation pose health risks for the elderly. These risks include stroke, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, increased pain, and suicide. Loneliness is one major cause of depression among seniors. With the COVID-19 crisis more seniors are being isolated from their families and friends. Seniors across the world are missing the human touch of a loved one. Assisted livings and nursing homes are limiting visitors by following regulations posed by the CDC www.cdc.gov. According to recent studies before the COVID-19 crisis, 24% of older adults in the United States or approximately 9 million people were isolated in areas, suburbs, rural communities, small towns. How do you know someone cares about you? This is a question that has changed drastically over the years. Before cell phones, friends and family would use the landline to talk to their family and friends by phone, a neighbor would walk across the street to deliver fresh baked cookies, or stop over to check up on a friend. In the age of social media we are missing the good stuff. Remember when someone would ring your door bell? Someone other than the delivery man? Social isolation effects both mental and physical abilities. Although it's great to see family or friends place their hand on the window outside of a resident's home to say hi, what will happen when COVID-19 leaves? Will the elderly be left isolated again? Dementia follows loneliness. Perception, and decline in mental capacity, impacts daily living skills, bathing, driving, caring for your needs, housekeeping, and cooking meals. Social isolation makes seniors more vulnerable to abuse.

Anytime is a good time to reach out and let your family or friend know you care. Make a phone call, send a letter, schedule a lunch date, take a walk, make a meal, spend leisure time together. Ask what you can do. Our friends were there for us, now it's our time to be there for them. Ask if you can provide transportation to a doctors appointment, give your time, be a mentor or tutor of technology, and keep the elderly engaged.