Winter Spring 2018 NapaRecSpring2018Print | Page 44

Loneliness and Isolation
How the Senior Center Can Help
Loneliness is an epidemic. At some point in
our lives we all feel alone, but very few of us
can relate to what it means to really be lonely.
A 2016 study, “Loneliness Linked to Serious
Health Problems and Death Among Elderly,”
published by UCSF describes loneliness
as “the unpleasant feeling of emptiness or
desolation.” Dr. Patrick Arbore, Founder
and Director of the Center for Elderly
Suicide Prevention describes it as “a time of
excruciating awareness of one’s self and how
one is situated in the world.”
The UCSF study states that it can be
especially debilitating to older adults and
may predict serious health problems or even
death. There are approximately 12 million
Americans age 65 and older living alone
and, according to a 2016 report from the
American Psychological Association, older
adults living alone are lonelier than age-
matched individuals living with others despite
comparable social interaction frequency and
personal network frequency.
As human beings, we naturally have a need
to connect with others. This feeling of
connectedness creates a sense of belonging.
When an individual loses this, it can create
feelings of emptiness and self-doubt.
Loneliness can lead to depression, but the
two are not one and the same. When an
individual begins to feel lonely, it is easy to
become isolated in one’s home where it is
familiar and safe.
It is important for friends, family members,
caregivers, and neighbors to recognize signs
of isolation. Isolation is a person’s response
to conditions that inhibit their ability or
desire to interact with others. Examples of
conditions resulting in isolation can be the loss
of family or friends, a change in health (such
as hearing loss), the loss of a driver’s license,
or relocation. Older adults are more at risk for
diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and coronary
disease because of isolation.
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As we age there is a natural tendency to
fear being judged. Individuals may find it
harder to express emotions, putting up walls.
Rather than reaching out or participating
in normal activities, a person may withdraw
and isolate themselves. Depression may
set in and physical symptoms can start to
appear: discomfort, fatigue, anxiety, tension,
irritability. Individuals that are lonely will
often choose to stay home, stay in, or go
back to bed.
So, how do you know when someone
is lonely? Dr. Arbore has offered the
following information for recognizing
loneliness:
• Does the person initiate contact?
• Is the person anxious, withdrawn,
apathetic, or hostile? Does the person
provoke to get attention?
• Does the person cling to others or attempt
to detain them?
• Is the person eager for visitors and
distressed when they leave?
• Does the person exhibit contempt for his
or her condition or self ?
If you recognize these signs in someone
what should you do? A common myth is that
loneliness only happens to older adults that
live alone. The reality is that loneliness can
happen to any of us. One of the things we
can do is start talking about it. When we get
comfortable having these conversations we
start to knock down the barriers that prevent
us from helping those that need it most.
It’s difficult to have a conversation when
you don’t know where to start. It’s also
difficult to have a good conversation when
one or both parties have preconceived ideas
about the other. How we speak to and about
older adults can prevent conversations from
even starting. Ageism often plays a role in
these conversations; how we prepare what
to say and how we say it. As with anyone
we talk to, our own beliefs and attitude
toward older adults and aging may influence
the communication.
It’s important to recognize what has triggered
the change in the person we are caring for.
Being present and keeping them connected is
essential to preventing loneliness and isolation.