43% of seniors suffer from the ailment that is twice as deadly as obesity.
Overcoming it is not as hard as you think.
A recent study suggests that loneliness is twice as dangerous to the elderly as obesity is. In this article 1 Assist Care of the Valley discusses how to help either yourself or your loved one overcome it.
A recent study has been completed – and its findings are worrisome, especially when you consider that 43% of seniors suffer from what the study warns us of.
According to a University of Chicago Professor, John Cacioppo, feelings of loneliness can cause premature death in seniors by 14%. That is twice the risk of obesity.
He went on to explain that the effects are quite dramatic in that they:
- Disrupt sleep
- Elevate blood pressure
- Increase levels of the hormone cortisol – which can lower immunity levels, slows the body’s ability to heal from wounds, and impairs cognitive performance
- Increase depression
- Lower overall subjective well-being
So what does that mean for your parent – or even yourself?
Traditional Options
Does that mean that retirement cannot be enjoyed the way that was envisioned? Absolutely not. Retirement can bring an added sense of drive to do those things that were difficult to do earlier, be that traveling or gardening or family history work, and so on.
Does that mean that the best choice is to put them into an assisted living home in Idaho Falls or in Rigby where they are certain to be surrounded by people?
For some, that is a great choice. When you consider the average employee to resident ratio at such homes is 10 to 1, and most residents spend much of their time alone in their own rooms, that may not be the best option either.
So what to do? – The solution is simple.
Professor Cacioppo suggests staying in the social circle that they have spent the past decades developing.
What better place than in the home where:
- Family can visit in a warm place
- They are surrounded by the neighbors that they became friends with
- They can go to church and serve in new ways and in ways that they know
- They can look forward to coming back to when they travel
- They can continue to beautify inside and out
But living alone can be dangerous! I mean, if your loved one lives in Driggs or St. Anthony, that is so isolated.
Not so much anymore. With technologies like smart homes, electronic response systems, and Skype, family and professionals can know they are safe.
But I live far away or simply cannot spend the time with my loved one the way that they need! They cannot even remember what they had for breakfast, so I am not sure if they are even eating.
1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care in Rexburg helps to overcome these concerns. By sending caregivers to the home, there is the one on one interaction that helps to overcome loneliness – and they help with those tasks that make a house a home. Whether that is preparing a meal and eating with them, or reminding them to take the correct medication, or exercising with them, or gardening with them, or taking them places. You can know that your loved one is safe and taken care of.
We will even keep you informed with what we have done every day and how it went.
And if 43% of seniors are suffering from loneliness, there is a pretty good chance your loved one just might need it.
To schedule a free home visit with us or to discuss some options for a senior you care about, give us a call at 208-557-4215, or fill out your information below and we will be in touch with you.
If your loved one is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, be sure to ask about our program that can provide financial assistance for these types of services.
