By Simone Limbu
Everyone has experienced loneliness at some point in their lives, but what if it persists? We may seek assistance, speak with a close relative, or go out and socialise. But for some elderly people, this may not be possible.
Isolation and feeling disconnected from society have made the elderly in the UK vulnerable to loneliness, which has been linked to serious health conditions. The most connected society is at the risk of being the loneliest.
Merry Limbu, an extra care support worker, said: ” There is not a single day that goes by without the elderly mentioning they feel lonely. It is a silent health crisis that needs to be addressed.”
According to Age UK, more than 1.4 million people in England are lonely and more than a million older people say they sometimes don’t speak to a friend, neighbour or family member for a month at a time. Islington has the fifth-highest risk of loneliness in London.
A nursing assistant, Kathy Merrifield said: “People are living longer lives, so they may outlive their spouses, friends, or children, only to face loneliness.”
Lack of social stimulation, including rare visits from family members, and limited physical and mental ability due to diseases like arthritis and dementia can contribute to the loneliness of the elderly in the UK.
Recognising signs of loneliness
According to a Campaign to End Loneliness report, the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is expected to reach two million by 2025-62, and more than half (59%) of those aged 85 live alone.
With her experience in the care field, Limbu says lonely older people can be identified by their overall demeanour: they don’t speak as much, their daily lives are very repetitive, they don’t clean as much, they are overweight, and the majority of them have dementia or depression. The elderly who are not lonely are brighter, happier, chattier and physically active.
“Another way I feel like they are lonely is when they miss a human touch,” Merrifield said: “Many elderly people have held my hand and I have been able to calm them down when they’re anxious. Some have kissed my hand and have slept holding my hand.”
Physical and mental health deterioration
If left untreated, loneliness has a negative impact on both physical and mental health. Loneliness has been linked to a variety of ailments, including an increased risk of depression and anxiety, dementia, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
“Elderly people’s limited physical ability to walk and meet people leads them to feel lonely and loneliness can cause them to feel depressed,” Limbu said. ” A lot of residents in my workplace are on antidepressants. Depression can then immensely deteriorate their mental health, to the point where they don’t make sense anymore when conversing.”
The impact on the physical health of lonely older people includes obesity. The nursing assistant said many elderly people do not have anyone with whom they want to engage in hobbies and other activities. This gives them the impression that they are uncared for.
Pandemic effect
The pandemic brought to light the long-standing issue of loneliness and isolation in the lives of older people. The elderly are undeniably one of the groups hardest hit by the pandemic.
In an interview with Elder, former advisor to the Blair Government and leading Social Scientist, Professor Robert Dingwall said: ‘Over a three-month period, a lack of any kind of break from the four walls around you may cause serious long-term health damage, both physically and mentally.”
Cathy Carpenter, Deputy Director of Services of St. Luke’s Community Centre said: “There was a fear factor because seeing everything on television raises your anxiety. You don’t want to come out if you don’t have someone to talk to or who can give you a different perspective.
“With their family members not being able to visit them often, they started to feel confused and lost.” the extra care support worker said. “Many elderly people missed their grandchildren and felt depressed. High cholesterol was also an issue among the residents as there was limited physical movement and they had gained weight.”
Merrifield recalls an elderly patient who believed he became weak and ended up in hospital because he wasn’t physically active during covid.
Services to combat loneliness
St. Luke’s Community Centre is a modern hub for South Islington that hosts over 55 lunch clubs to engage the elderly to give their lives structure and combat loneliness. Local residents are welcome to visit on any weekday to catch up with friends, participate in activities and exercises, and enjoy a three-course meal at a discounted price.
This is vital as research shows that “having a lack of social connections is as damaging to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day”.
“We are social animals, we need to have a connection with each other,” Carpenter said. “Whatever age you are it’s really important that people talk and can think about if they’ve got anxiety or worries to have somebody to hear you and listen to you and consider what you’re saying and be heard and have a sense of belonging.”
Adds Limbu: “Engaging in activities will definitely provide them with a lot of stimulation from the environment and stimulate their brain. Their days would be filled with purpose; tasks to complete and do, physical activities would also help the residents stay fit and healthy.
“There had been previous residents who were diagnosed with depression due to loneliness and after therapy sessions referred by social services the resident was back to normal again.”
The Centre has an array of activities to choose from such as sewing, recycling, dance classes, art, mindfulness, chair yoga, chair-based exercises, gardening and more. They also offer somebody to chat with, whether staff or volunteers, including befriending calls, face-to-face conversations with advice and information officers from AgeUK, and more.
Such conversations in person can be a bonus for people who cannot access computer information. “The government is making people go online, when you’re 80 or 90 and you’re not savvy with your IT skills,” Carpenter said. The organisation assists the elderly in filling out forms and ensuring that they receive all of their entitlements.
Volunteering And Job Opportunities
Interested volunteers can apply on the website and learn about the various opportunities available. St. Luke’s Community Centre is looking for volunteers for PC Pals, which involves training people with their mobile phones. Typically, people over the age of 55 are less skilled with their digital devices, but it could be their tablet or phone that they need help with, such as how to get online and book an appointment.
The job club for volunteers is open to all unemployed Islington residents who want to improve their CVs, gain confidence, and learn new skills.
For more information, visit www.slpt.org.uk
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