Page 22 - Mid Valley Times 3-5-20 E-edition

Thursday, March 5, 2020 | B10 | Mid Valley TiMes
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How do we combat loneliness for older adults?
Loneliness and social isolation
are a huge concern
for older adults. As we age, it becomes harder to stay con- nected with family and friends, especially if you are living alone. Older adults face
loss, loss of a good friend or spouse to illness or death. ey have to face issues such as hearing and or vision loss, mobil- ity challenges both physically or in loss
of driving privileges. All these issues cause challenges in staying connected. e Na- tional Poll on Healthy Aging found one in three older adults
say they lack regular companionship and a survey conducted
Now What?
by GreatCall reports 52% of older adults experience feelings of loneliness a few times a year.
Now studies are showing that being
lonely can lead to de- pression and or cogni- tive decline. ey are saying, “Loneliness is as unhealthy as smok- ing 15 cigarettes per day.” Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to poorer health outcomes and higher healthcare cost. According to AARP this is adding $6.7 billion in health related spending in the older adult popu- lation.
Social separa- tion of our families is very prevalent in
the United States
By Ro Linscheid
because our families have spread all over the states and beyond. We are not as con- nected as we were years ago when gen- erations lived under the same roof. We now have to be more deliberate in staying connected. ank- fully, technology such as Skype, FaceTime, texting and calling have helped to give us connectivity.
ere are ways you, as an older adult, could combat loneli- ness and isolation. You cannot rely on others to combat your loneliness. You need to take matters into your own hands. So, nd something to
do. Doing something that keeps you think- ing about something other than yourself helps to decrease the feeling of loneliness. If you are mobile, join a friend for co ee. I know of several cof- fee groups meeting in Reedley. I am sure ev- ery town has a gath-
ering spot where folks come to meet and connect. Going for a walk or doing some gardening, if you want to stay close to home, gives you some exer- cise and allows you to breathe deeply. Do- ing something that is useful and improves the world around you goes a long way to feeling ful lled and useful.
Take care of yourself. Get your
vision and hearing checked regularly. Youcanbeinaroom lled with wonderful people but if you do not hear what is being said or you cannot see who is in the room it can be very disturbing leading you to pull back and stay away.
Find a friend to hang out with or do some volunteer work. Look around your community. ere are a number of volunteer possibilities. Being in a group working to- wards a common goal leads to a feeling of
inclusion. It is likely you will nd some- one who is willing to strike up a conversa- tion. Listen, smile and share your thoughts
in a give and take conversation.
Consider mov- ing to a retirement
community like Sierra View Homes Retire- ment Community since it o ers activi- ties that give oppor- tunities to relate to others. ere are din- ing opportunities that give you a healthy way to be connected. If you tend to be quiet and shy in a retire- ment living space there will be plenty of others who will draw you into the conversa- tion. Exercise rooms to encourage you to be active and stay t.
Travel some- where new. ere are numerous tour groups to join if you are able to travel. ere are many places to see near and far. Being curious about explor- ing some place you
have not seen before gives you a way to keep looking forward. It keeps your mind focused on something other than yourself.
Loneliness is
a feeling, not a fact. When you are feel- ing lonely it is be- cause something has triggered a memory
of that feeling. Our brains are designed
to pay attention to pain and danger, and that includes painful scary feelings; there- fore, loneliness gets our attention. When you sense that feel- ing of loneliness, be sure to do something that gets your mind thinking about other things. Be creative, I have mentioned only a few ways to stop
the feeling. You may have another idea that works better for you. You are in charge of how you feel.
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