Most of us aspire to live a long and healthy life. We admire senior citizens for their wisdom. However, their long life often comes with the grief of outliving their spouses, friends, and sometimes their children. If seniors can’t maintain and make new meaningful connections as they age, they are at risk for crippling loneliness.
Loneliness is feeling sad about a lack of human connections and interactions. While social isolation may make most people feel lonely, loneliness is not the same as being alone. However, not everyone who lives alone feels lonely. What’s more, not all people who feel lonely live alone. People of any age may feel lonely, but the condition is especially common in seniors.
Risks Factors for Loneliness among Seniors
Firstly, studies from the University of California San Francisco show that loneliness among seniors is pervasive and contributes to poor health and even death.
Senior Loneliness Risk Factors:
- Being an immigrant who lost touch with loved ones from their home country.
- Feeling marginalized by the wider community.
- Living alone.
- Being physically limited by illness or disability.
- Lacking the financial means to do activities or visit others.
- Grieving the loss of a loved one.
- Not having meaningful outlets for their talents.
- Working as a full-time caregiver.
- Suffering from incontinence.
- Lacking the ability to drive or take public transportation.
- Struggling with a communication barrier from language, loss of hearing, or inability to talk.
- Feeling depressed or anxious and lacking the motivation to join activities.
Overcoming Loneliness with Meaningful Social Engagement
The first step to overcoming loneliness is acknowledging it and a need to change some habits. Thus, if you experience loneliness, think about small ways to connect again. Even the smallest positive change might put you on the right path for reaching out more and more. For example, if a spouse or loved one is feeling lonely, invite them to join you in some of these activities. Finally, get the ball rolling. In other words, look for opportunities to talk, laugh, cry, and share:
- Join a club, class, or religious institution to get to know people with similar values and interests—if you can’t drive, investigate ride-sharing, public transportation, and online groups.
- Or, invite one or two friends over to share a meal, watch a movie, or play cards.
- Alternatively, try an exercise class geared toward senior citizens.
- What’s more, call or visit a family member or friend.
- Volunteer your time and talents at a school, animal shelter, or place of worship.
- Get a job that you enjoy interacting more with others.
Remember that everyone needs physical contact too. Therefore, don’t be shy about asking for a hug. Finally, consider getting a cat or dog to satisfy that need.
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Let a skilled attorney assist with your estate plan. So, contact us today to learn about your options (909) 608-7671. We operate offices in Glendora and Upland, California. Therefore, we provide legal services for individuals living in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. This includes the cities of Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Colton, Rialto, Chino, Chino Hills, Glendora, Claremont, Montclair, Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas, Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Corona, Norco & Mira Loma. Visit SkvarnaLaw.com to learn more.
