What is the danger that impacts more seniors every day as the senior population grows? It is not what you would typically think, nor is it something people are comfortable talking about. But the danger is deadly real. There are simple steps to overcome it. Read on.

When people consider what is killing the elderly, they may consider the dangers of falling. That makes sense. The CDC reports that one out of every three seniors fall every year – but less than half of them talk to their healthcare providers about it. It also makes sense because falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. It also makes sense since almost 22,000 people were killed by accidental falls in 2010.

But that is not what this article is about.

We can talk about falls. It is easy to talk about. We laugh about the tagline from the commercial that was drilled into our psyche about falling and not being able to get up.

But again, that is not what this article is about. This article is about what no one likes to talk about. And no one laughs about. And most people fear at any stage in their life.

This article is about Social Isolation.

Seniors experiencing social isolation may reduce their life expectancy by up to 26%. Read below to find out seven ways to change this.

Last year, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that seniors who were socially isolated had a 26% higher death risk during a seven year period than those who were the most social.

That is scary. But want to know something even scarier?

That risk does not change even if the senior does not consider themselves lonely.

Yikes.

According to the U.S. Census, 11.3 million seniors live alone. That represents almost a third of seniors. If you are a senior woman, by the time you are 80, that percentage grows to almost half.

Social isolation often leads to self neglect. This neglect does not always occur on purpose. Try living alone for a week and see how your life changes. Not because you want to, but simply because it does.

The U.S. Administration on Aging suggests the following signs of self neglect:

• Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated or improperly attended medical conditions, and poor personal hygiene;
• Hazardous or unsafe living conditions/arrangements (e.g., improper wiring, no indoor plumbing, no heat, no running water);
• Unsanitary or unclean living quarters (e.g., animal/insect infestation, no functioning toilet, fecal/urine smell);
• Inappropriate and/or inadequate clothing, lack of the necessary medical aids (e.g., eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures)

The good news is that there is hope. There are ways to increase the social interaction of your loved one, and it does not have to mean you are carrying the entire load and being the sole source of interaction.

Here are some suggestions:

• Drop by your loved one’s unexpectedly. See if you see any signs as listed above. If so, make a plan for changes.
• Reach out to your parent’s old friends in the neighborhood. Is there a way that they can get together even once a week? Once a month?
• Introduce your parent to social media. It should not replace physical social interactions, but the number of seniors joining Facebook in 2013 almost doubled when compared to how many were on Facebook in 2012.
• Hire a caregiver. Caregivers are there to provide help around the house as well as one-on-one social interaction. While not medical help, they can also help identify when medical needs are not being met. (1 Assist Care of the Valley can arrange a stellar one for your loved one – and they are usually less expensive than an assisted living facility).
• Help find community activities. Are their local activities geared for seniors? Are their friends performing, speaking, etc?
• Find a way for them to volunteer.
• Request help from their local church. Can someone drop by once or twice a week? Maybe once a month is not enough.

To find help for either yourself or for your loved one in East Idaho, give us a call at 208-557-4215 or click on Contact Us in the menu at the top of the screen.

We will work with you to create a plan to help end the social isolation that either you or your loved one is experiencing.

This blog is not intended to be nor should be used for medical advice. For such advice, seek out a medical professional.

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