Loneliness can be an issue for anyone, but it is something our elderly loved ones can be particularly vulnerable to. One in five older Australians reports feeling lonely. [1] Feeling lonely can affect a person’s physical and mental health, leading to an increased risk of dementia, high blood pressure, and dementia.[2] At Home Care Assistance, we see the effect that loneliness can have on a person’s quality of life. We have put together this blog about how home care can help your loved one avoid feelings of loneliness
Social isolation is common among older adults. Retirement and losing friends significantly change a person’s life as they age, leading to a much smaller social circle. Not only are they less active and less likely to engage in social activities, but they are also more likely to live alone after a husband/wife/partner passes away. With more time on their hands but less company to spend it with, it is not surprising that our older loved ones may feel lonely.
Other changes that can make it more difficult for loved ones to be socially active include a deterioration in hearing, which makes conversations difficult; decline in vision, which makes it riskier to leave the house; and an increased rate of illness and injuries, which tend to keep people at home.
According to research,[3] social isolation can have a range of adverse effects on people, including increasing their risk of:
- Dementia by 50%
- Heart Disease by 29%
- Stroke by 32%
Signs of loneliness can include:
- Saying they are lonely
- Emotional changes such as being depressed or expressing feelings of hopelessness
- Behavioural changes such as being irresponsible with money
- Not caring about their appearance
- Saying they are not sleeping well
- Withdrawing from activities
If you start noticing these changes in your loved one, you can ask them how they feel and whether they are lonely. This might be a complex topic, but it is essential.
If your loved one is experiencing loneliness, you can encourage them to go out more and join community groups to meet people. If, however, getting out and about safely is difficult, home care provided by a specialist provider such as Home Care Assistance can be a perfect option.
Engaging in home care not only means that there is help available for your loved one for tasks they may find more challenging, such as shopping, cooking and cleaning, but also gives them company. It provides someone to talk to, have a cup of tea with them, and check in on them regularly. With the assistance of a Care Professional, your loved one may even be able to get out of the house to do more activities.
Home care is flexible and can be adapted as your loved one’s needs change. Initially, they may just come in for the company and help with one or two tasks. However, if your loved one’s needs increase, the care can be easily scaled up to support them.
This means that home care not only keeps your loved one company but can also provide peace of mind that there is someone supporting them and keeping them company.
Support at home from a specialist provider, such as Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefits and comfort to your quality of life while living independently. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions for independent living. For more information, contact a Home Care Assistance near me today.
[1] https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/older-australians-join-the-fight-against-loneliness-and-social-isolation#:~:text=Longitudinal%20data*%20shows%20that%20one,of%20residents%20feel%20lonely**.
[2] https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/social-isolation-and-loneliness
[3] https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks
