Why is isolation a leading cause for death (or unhappiness, bad health, detriment to society)? Or Tell me your thoughts about Isolation and the elderly?
The following infographic (which I created using Easel.ly) provides some details on how isolation and loneliness are real problems for the elderly, especially those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
As indicated, 1 in 7 people living with Alzheimer’s live alone. This is quite troubling when you know a little about the disease – as you can readily understand the implications of what this might mean for a senior in terms of general safety and overall well-being.
Additionally, as the infographic indicates, loneliness is actually an accelerator for dementia. Statistics indicate that isolated seniors have a 59% greater risk of mental and physical decline that their more social counterparts. Likewise, other types of afflictions are also more prevalent for the isolated senior, as lonely seniors have a 45% increase in risk for death overall, as compared to their more socially connected counterparts.
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With this in mind, what are you seeing in your community?
How are you involved in helping combat isolation and loneliness for seniors?
What creative ways are you doing it as a single person, couple or family?
Are their groups near you engaged with Seniors and what are they doing?
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Marc Mailhot is a guest contributor and co-founder of Grandpals.ca
Visit his site to find out more and stay tuned for our LIVE FACEBOOK interview with him in the Spring of 2018.
