Page 4 - Bella Vista Gardens Newsletter Spring 2019_FINAL

4 BELLA VISTA NEWS, SPRING 2019
Health & Wellbeing

Cheer up the Lonely Day

By Kerry Mann, CEO Cranbrook Care
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that there
were 493,000 people aged 85 years and over in Australia
The 11th July was Cheer up the Lonely Day which
serves as an important reminder that feelings of in 2017, making up 2% of the population. This group is
loneliness are unfortunately a common occurrence for projected to grow rapidly reaching between 3.6% and
many, particularly senior Australians. So how can we 4.4% in 2066. These figures demonstrate that maximising
ensure our ageing population feels included and cared the health and wellbeing of our seniors is a public health
imperative that will become of increasing important over
for?
time, requiring real solutions that go well beyond home‐
Unfortunately, loneliness affects a disproportionate delivery meals and adding hospital beds. With loneliness
number of senior Australians and the issue has become having far‐reaching consequences in terms of depression,
much more than an unfortunate situation – it is a mobility and the successful treatment of chronic disease,
serious health concern, and one which should be a the situation is already putting pressure on health and
public health priority. While social isolation refers to social services in this country and others.
having minimal contact with others, whether through
limited opportunity, lack of existing networks, reduced Obviously not all lonely seniors are looking to move into
ability to communicate or a lack of awareness of retirement residences or aged care accommodation just
relevant resources; loneliness is the negative feeling yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help them feel
connected and cared for. With many Australians keen to
often associated with social isolation ‐ with actual and
perceived social isolation both associated with an continue living independently at home, our industry must
increased risk for early mortality. continue to be innovative, and provide personalised in‐
home services which extend beyond the traditional
While loneliness is not exclusively a problem for our services to encompass companionship ‐ all intended to
ageing population, it is certainly acutely felt by the make staying at home simpler, safer, more sustainable –
elderly, many of whom feel a genuine sense of loss at and less isolating. Addressing their social health and
the disintegration of their social lives and decreasing minimising loneliness throughout the continuum of care
interaction with busy family and remaining friends – should be a primary public health priority – not just for
whether caused by being widowed, dealing with policymakers and those in the industry, but for all of us.
dementia or an ill partner, personal poor health,
Let Cheer up the Lonely Day serve as a reminder that
immobility, having to relocate from their family home
and community or poor technological skills which make nobody wants to grow old alone, or be alone, nor should
it harder to establish new friendships and maintain they have to.
contact with younger generations.