SENIOR ISOLATION – THE NEXT PROBLEM WAVE?
As the nation celebrates Family Day – an occasion to spend time and rejoice with our loved ones – we must acknowledge that many in our community, especially seniors, are still burdened with isolation, loneliness and stressful health effects of a prolonged lack of quality social interaction.
The global pandemic has had a disproportionately negative effect on the emotional engagement and mental well being of the seniors within our community. Seniors, being considered the most vulnerable part of our population against COVID-19 found themselves subjected to the most severe constraints in relation to social interactions.
Visits from family, community gatherings, adult day programs, celebrations, coffee with friends, even simple errands like getting groceries became hazards to the physical health of seniors. The restrictions that were meant to protect the seniors from the risk of Covid-19, led to sustained phases of social isolation for seniors, creating detrimental effects to their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Multiple studies have been conducted to demonstrate the degenerative effects of social isolation and loneliness on physical health. A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences presented some alarming findings:
- Loneliness and social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes - a risk that rivalled those smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity
- Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia, about a 29% increased risk of heart disease and about a 32% increased risk of stroke
We are called “social” animals for a reason.
As the pandemic restrictions ease, as a community we need to remain mindful of the lingering mental health stresses it is leaving members of our community with, especially seniors. It will take a concerted effort with the community coming together to reverse the mental malign caused by prolonged isolation over the course of the pandemic.
With the risk of severe COVID illness abating, restrictions will likely continue to relax, and many senior focused pre-pandemic activities could restart. However, logistical issues in terms of access and overcoming hesitation on the part of seniors will remain.
An easy, effective option to combat senior isolation and loneliness is one-on-one Companionship support.
While seniors could receive companion care from family and friends, to offer it on an ongoing and consistent basis is not easy. The situation gets more difficult for seniors with complex behavior patterns or evening dementia, requiring a certain level of expertise and skill on the part of companions. For many families facing such difficulties, hiring a professional caregiver may be the right solution, not only to offer effective companion care to their senior loved one but also get much needed respite as part of packed daily schedules.
How Home Instead Can Help With Isolation
Our team at Home Instead (Burnaby & South Vancouver) has the opportunity to support clients (and their families) through our daily efforts in companionship, offering healthy interactions and recreation activities that promote physical and cognitive health of senior loved ones.
Highly compassionate and skilled caregivers are carefully matched to senior clients, to provide social nourishment, friendship, and emotional support through activities such as playing games/puzzles, sharing meals, going on walks or outings, swapping stories, taking a walk around the block, going for coffee or groceries, or simply sitting with the senior to listen to music or watch a beloved film.
Consistency of caregiver is at the core of Home Instead’s approach of providing senior loved ones with highly effective companion care. With the same caregiver visiting regularly, the senior develops an emotional bond and trust and the caregiver becomes a friend, a confidant, and an ally i.e., someone who can be trusted to be there when the senior needs them.
In addition to this fulfilling and empowering bond, a companion can regularly monitor the health of the senior and provide additional services designed to enhance the health and well being of the senior loved one, including:
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as mobility support, help with bathing, grooming, and hygiene.
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping, laundry and garbage disposal
- Medication reminders
- Transportation for appointments and errands
Overall, companion care can be a great personalized care option to help a senior stay emotionally engaged and social, while making sure that their essential daily needs are met.
