There’s no better time to provide valuable information about the effects of loneliness on senior health and wellbeing. Did you know loneliness can cause more than issues with emotions? Following are just a few of the negative ways loneliness can impact seniors.
Increased Risk of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease
A recent study conducted in Amsterdam and published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry focused on 2,200 seniors who lived alone and didn’t show any symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The study was conducted over a period of three years, and it found that the feeling of loneliness increased the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, by 64 percent.
Compromised Immune System
Other studies have shown loneliness also takes a toll on the immune system. As individuals age, it becomes more important than ever to keep the immune system healthy to fight off simple bacterial and viral infections. Loneliness, much like stress, has been shown to directly impact the health of the immune system in seniors.
Home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
General Decrease in Wellbeing
Finally, the overall wellbeing of seniors who spend a lot of their time alone is also compromised. Numerous studies have shown social interaction is an important part of happiness and wellbeing, and socialization can also boost cognitive abilities. Seniors who feel lonely are often unhappy in general and may even experience mild to severe depression.
For families living in Montgomery, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
How You Can Help
If your loved one lives alone or seems lonely, there are things you can do to help. Make sure to visit your loved one often, and encourage him or her to become involved in the community. If you live far from your loved one, consider hiring a home caregiver. There are also plenty of groups and services out there dedicated to providing suitable activities for seniors.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Montgomery families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Call us today at (334) 593-3988 to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.