Loneliness is one of the most frequent and least acknowledged health issues that can affect older adults. Aging brings with it a variety of issues that lead to social isolation, such as the deaths of family members and friends, relocation, and the development of chronic illnesses. Worse still, loneliness may lead to a variety of health problems in older adults, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, dementia care, cognitive decline, depression, death, and a variety of other ailments. Read on to learn about the effects of social isolation in older adults.
Physical and Mental Health
Social isolation and loneliness have a wide range of influences on the health of older adults. Simply put, loneliness has a direct negative relationship with both physical and mental health. Studies have shown that older adults who are socially isolated and feel lonely are more prone to have poor physical and mental health.
Cognitive Decline
Social isolation and loneliness have a number of detrimental implications on mental health. These consequences are most visible in older adults as cognitive decline and the beginning of various kinds of dementia. Social isolation has been found to be a risk factor for, and may contribute to, dementia development, quicker cognitive decline, and poor overall cognitive function.
Mortality
Another detrimental health impact of social isolation in older adults is a higher chance of mortality. A study of persons aged 52 and older discovered that social isolation and loneliness were both connected with an increased risk of death. One theory proposed that this outcome was due to older adults who live alone or lack social contacts being less likely to seek medical assistance if acute symptoms emerge owing to a lack of urging from other people.
Depression
One of the most obvious symptoms of social isolation is its influence on mood. Loneliness from social isolation is usually related to unpleasant sentiments, including but not limited to poor self-esteem, numbness, anguish, and melancholy, regardless of the demographic group it affects. Loneliness, as it turns out, is closely linked to symptoms of depression in older adults. This shows that social isolation may lead to the emergence of mental health difficulties such as depression or may aggravate mental health concerns in people who already have them.
Choose Discovery Commons Cypress Point
The indoor and outdoor amenities in our retirement community provide plenty of possibilities for pampering yourself, mixing with neighbors and friends, relaxation, fun, or simply sitting in peaceful leisure. Every day, we provide new opportunities and a variety of senior living experiences for our residents to select from. Begin your day with a specialized workout class, stretching session, or yoga exercise. Participate in the scheduled activities for the day! Find live entertainment, classes, club gatherings, movies, games, and anything else you can think of. We also run errands, go on day trips and excursions, and attend local festivals and events together on a regular basis. Discovery Commons Cypress Point offers free, scheduled transportation to off-site activities and appointments, so you can relax knowing we’ve got your back.
