Loneliness
Content Courtesy of the Forever Young Podcast with Christiana Egi and Cherrie-Marie Chiu.
A recent article read that over 35% of people over the age of 45 are likely to be lonely. Loneliness is an invisible enemy that negatively affects a huge number of people, mentally and physically. A person's loneliness cannot be determined simply by looking at them, which is why we discussed the topic of loneliness on the most recent episode of our Forever Young podcast. You can listen to the full podcast episode below or keep reading to find out more about our discussion on loneliness.
The topic of loneliness can be difficult to discuss, but that is also why it is so important to do so. Even if you have strong and healthy relationships with friends and family, loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Loneliness can also cause serious health issues, and we need to talk about loneliness so that we can help people see it in their friends and family members, and know what to do to help.
It is important to note that loneliness is subjective, so what you and I consider lonely may not be the same for someone else. It is possible to feel isolated, as so many of us did during the pandemic, but isolation is not always lonely. It turned out that many people enjoyed the period of isolation and had no problem with the stay-at-home order. Others, meanwhile, were going crazy due to the lack of social interaction.
There are so many factors affecting us today. One of the first things is that our lives are so much busier than they have ever been and many choose to move away from their hometowns and even their home countries over time. This leaves family members scattered across the city, country, and even across the globe. This pattern of moving around often also leads to a lack of friendships and bonds formed around the neighborhood, which is crucial for older people.
There was a study done again by the AARP that showed 61% of people who do not talk to their neighbors are lonely. So it just seems we're not reaching out to our neighbors and making friends anymore. In fact, the number of Americans who had no close friends has tripled since 1985.
Sadly, many elderly people are lonely in this day and age, but loneliness is not an inevitable part of aging. As far back as 10 years ago, the UK launched a campaign to combat loneliness. People were already talking about how important it is to combat loneliness, especially in older adults. That is why doctors are starting to pay more attention to their patients, as they want to know what their social network is, and they want to know what they do throughout the day so that they can help them improve aspects of their lives.
Not only does loneliness take a tragic toll on the personal lives of older people, but it also has a financial cost. The American Association for Retired Persons (the AARP) did a study on loneliness, and they calculated that Medicare spends $134 more each month on lonely older people than they do for socially connected older adults. That adds up to $6.7 billion extra dollars spent on healthcare annually. Combating loneliness is important not only for our health but also avoiding huge healthcare costs.
Keep your hearing in check. A University of British Columbia study found that hearing problems can also lead to loneliness - a 10 decibel decrease in hearing led to a 53% higher risk of social isolation. Don't be shy about bringing up your hearing issues with your doctor. People who have trouble hearing can become socially isolated, and then they can become depressed and lonely. This can ultimately lead to sickness and even death. It's good to mention in America, you can actually buy hearing aids without a prescription now.
You may think that retired people might be a little bit more lonely than people who are working, but it is quite the opposite - people who are working are more lonely than people who are retired. When you are busy all the time or focused on work, it becomes harder to cultivate friendships, which may lead to loneliness. Because of this, loneliness can affect anyone, whether they are older adults, young adults, or children.
We are lucky to live in a world where technology can help combat loneliness. This was proved during the time of the pandemic and lockdown, when family and friends chose to keep in touch through social media, zoom, and by sharing and recreating viral videos and trends. Technology allowed us to continue social interaction to a certain extent which could have helped many combat loneliness during this time.
Another factor that contributes to loneliness and older adults is living alone. In order to combat loneliness that comes with living alone, joining a class, starting a hobby or working out has proven to help people feel less lonely. There are many ways to combat loneliness with technology as well, and you can take classes online as well. Volunteering is also another way to help loneliness, and also helping others can give you more clarity and peace to combat your own loneliness!
You can easily get carried away on your phone or on social media, but you can also find productive ways to spend your time on the internet and as well as access lots of educational material, like the Forever Young Podcast! Especially in today's time and age when family and friends are scattered across the globe and technology is the only means of staying in touch, teaching older adults computer literacy is critical. Many older adults are already computer and social-media savvy, which means it is not impossible!
It is inevitable that we will all experience loneliness at some point in our lives. Our goal with this episode was to help our readers and listeners better understand what loneliness looks like, and that it may not always be accompanied by symptoms of depression. Be sure to keep an eye on your family and friends, and check in with them regularly. It is not easy for anyone, no matter what their age, career, or level of stress may be. The most important thing we can do for one another is to be there for them wherever they may need it!
The Forever Young podcast is created and produced by Christiana and Cherrie Marie Chiu. Produced and engineered by Elisse Hill. The podcast represents our opinions and those of our guests. The content should not be taken as medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. If you like our show, please tell your friends and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. Have questions? Email us at ourforeveryoungpodcast@gmail.com.
