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How Senior Isolation Can Cause Depression & Other Health Related Risks. 

Elderly people tend to socialize less and less, thus causing senior isolation, depression and other health related risks. While in school or at work, interaction with others is inevitable. However, after retirement, the less people you may surround yourself with; loss of a spouse, children move away, friends relocate to live closer to their grand children etc. Some create a family and their life becomes centered around their children and spouse. There are moments when you can’t wait for some alone time after being with family night and day. But then one day, the kids are all grown up and moved away. Now more than ever, you wish you had more time to spend with them. Ironic, isn’t it?

Another topic often not talked about is what happens when you out live your spouse? You may feel so alone in the world, especially those who did not have children of their own. Isolation is real in seniors that ultimately causes depression and other health related risks. Today is World Health Day and the theme is Depression. To recognize this day, North Star Senior Advisors would like to share not only facts about senior isolation but also our own experiences working with families who have come to us worried about their loved one living alone.

Facts of Senior Isolation

  • Several studies show that senior isolation can cause several health-related risks such as Dementia.
  • There are other issues on a smaller scale like high blood pressure and urinary tract infections.
  • It is also a major risk factor for depression and people who are lonely are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior.

Being alone with no one to talk to is never good. Depression can lead to unwanted behaviors and trigger health problems that could have easily been avoided.  For a larger fact list on how senior isolation can affect your loved one, please visit Home Care Assistance.

How to Help with Senior Isolation & Depression

Staying active can help decrease isolation and depression in seniors! Physical activity can greatly improve their moods and get them to stay active longer. Also, volunteering at local charities is a great way to not only get involved in the community but increase socialization as well!

By keeping these facts in mind, it is a good idea to be proactive in your loved one’s care. If your loved one has mobility barriers and feels isolated because they cannot get around easily, we highly encourage you to talk to someone and find help.  As a senior advisor at North Star Senior Advisors, families contact us frantic about their loved one living along and not receiving care or company from others. They fear their loved one is not taking care of themselves by not eating properly or cleaning when necessary and ultimately, being too depressed to do anything about it. Some of the time, their son or daughter may live out of state and not even know what is going on. Even if they do live nearby, they may not have the time to pop in on their mom or dad to really observe any changes occurring.

North Star Senior Advisors is Here to Help

What we do at North Star Senior Advisors is help guide families every step of the way to locate the best-suited care for their loved one, whether it’s someone coming into the home to provide care or transitioning into a senior living community. Senior living options in Orlando are numerous and finding the one that can accommodate your loved one’s care can take time! We are here to do all the research for you and save you the time and burden of doing it alone. Senior living communities in Orlando are a great way to get that social interaction from other people and maintain a healthy balanced diet! There are a variety of activities offered including elderly chair exercises, physical activity, music socials, happy hours, three restaurant style meals, and much more!  The last thing you want to hear is a phone call from the hospital saying your loved one was rushed to the ER because they fell, or they have not eaten, or a neighbor found them wandering the neighborhood. We are here to help, listen, and guide you through the entire process in your loved one’s time of need.

Senior isolation and depression is hard to battle, especially if your loved one wants to remain alone. However, with the right tools and guidance, it does not have to be difficult to take on alone. There is no doubt living alone causes depression and other major issues. It can easily escalate if a senior has mobility problems, but most of all, not getting social interaction from other people can really take a toll on someone’s life. The best thing is to be prepared. Call or visit your mom/dad, grandparent, or friend if you haven’t. Take time out of your day to see how your loved one is doing. It could be a matter of life or death.

For more information on senior living near you, please visit our website at www.northstarsa.com or call a senior advisor today at (407) 796-1582.

 

North-Star-Senior-Advisors-Lonely-Senior

About the author : Veronica Quiñones

headshot of Veronica Quiñones

Owner and Senior Advisor

By Published On: April 7, 2017Categories: Senior Care

Share this article on social media!

How Senior Isolation Can Cause Depression & Other Health Related Risks. 

Elderly people tend to socialize less and less, thus causing senior isolation, depression and other health related risks. While in school or at work, interaction with others is inevitable. However, after retirement, the less people you may surround yourself with; loss of a spouse, children move away, friends relocate to live closer to their grand children etc. Some create a family and their life becomes centered around their children and spouse. There are moments when you can’t wait for some alone time after being with family night and day. But then one day, the kids are all grown up and moved away. Now more than ever, you wish you had more time to spend with them. Ironic, isn’t it?

Another topic often not talked about is what happens when you out live your spouse? You may feel so alone in the world, especially those who did not have children of their own. Isolation is real in seniors that ultimately causes depression and other health related risks. Today is World Health Day and the theme is Depression. To recognize this day, North Star Senior Advisors would like to share not only facts about senior isolation but also our own experiences working with families who have come to us worried about their loved one living alone.

Facts of Senior Isolation

  • Several studies show that senior isolation can cause several health-related risks such as Dementia.
  • There are other issues on a smaller scale like high blood pressure and urinary tract infections.
  • It is also a major risk factor for depression and people who are lonely are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior.

Being alone with no one to talk to is never good. Depression can lead to unwanted behaviors and trigger health problems that could have easily been avoided.  For a larger fact list on how senior isolation can affect your loved one, please visit Home Care Assistance.

How to Help with Senior Isolation & Depression

Staying active can help decrease isolation and depression in seniors! Physical activity can greatly improve their moods and get them to stay active longer. Also, volunteering at local charities is a great way to not only get involved in the community but increase socialization as well!

By keeping these facts in mind, it is a good idea to be proactive in your loved one’s care. If your loved one has mobility barriers and feels isolated because they cannot get around easily, we highly encourage you to talk to someone and find help.  As a senior advisor at North Star Senior Advisors, families contact us frantic about their loved one living along and not receiving care or company from others. They fear their loved one is not taking care of themselves by not eating properly or cleaning when necessary and ultimately, being too depressed to do anything about it. Some of the time, their son or daughter may live out of state and not even know what is going on. Even if they do live nearby, they may not have the time to pop in on their mom or dad to really observe any changes occurring.

North Star Senior Advisors is Here to Help

What we do at North Star Senior Advisors is help guide families every step of the way to locate the best-suited care for their loved one, whether it’s someone coming into the home to provide care or transitioning into a senior living community. Senior living options in Orlando are numerous and finding the one that can accommodate your loved one’s care can take time! We are here to do all the research for you and save you the time and burden of doing it alone. Senior living communities in Orlando are a great way to get that social interaction from other people and maintain a healthy balanced diet! There are a variety of activities offered including elderly chair exercises, physical activity, music socials, happy hours, three restaurant style meals, and much more!  The last thing you want to hear is a phone call from the hospital saying your loved one was rushed to the ER because they fell, or they have not eaten, or a neighbor found them wandering the neighborhood. We are here to help, listen, and guide you through the entire process in your loved one’s time of need.

Senior isolation and depression is hard to battle, especially if your loved one wants to remain alone. However, with the right tools and guidance, it does not have to be difficult to take on alone. There is no doubt living alone causes depression and other major issues. It can easily escalate if a senior has mobility problems, but most of all, not getting social interaction from other people can really take a toll on someone’s life. The best thing is to be prepared. Call or visit your mom/dad, grandparent, or friend if you haven’t. Take time out of your day to see how your loved one is doing. It could be a matter of life or death.

For more information on senior living near you, please visit our website at www.northstarsa.com or call a senior advisor today at (407) 796-1582.

 

North-Star-Senior-Advisors-Lonely-Senior

Article by:

Veronica Quiñones

Owner and Senior Advisor

headshot of Veronica Quiñones