Loneliness can have an adverse effect on the mental health of older adults
| Apr 30, 2019, 16:16 IST
Being lonely might have a negative reaction on people's mental health but it happens to be given the least importance. We often end up thinking that it's nothing more than a harmless state of mind. However, while most adults might have the means to get rid of their loneliness, the people who suffer the most when it comes to feeling alone are older adults. These are people who have often lost their spouse and have had their children move out and now live by themselves.
A recent study was able to find that loneliness can cause a substantial amount of damage to the mental health of older adults. As part of the study, the researchers first began by starting to jot down pointers about the factors that made older adults feel lonely. They found that loneliness happens to be a perceived emotion so when an older adult thinks that he or she is lonely, they're more likely to feel its effects. More often than not older adults feel lonely because of their declining health.
The researchers also found that loneliness, although deemed harmless, is actually just as harmful as any other major factors of death like heart disease and obesity. This alone is proof enough of how dangerous it can be for people to think that they're alone. This factor also works as a significant predictor when health issues are found in older adults.
Researchers now hope that with the proper amount of research and guidance, health care professionals should be able to connect lonely older adults to the right community centres and services. “Our health care system and society are increasingly recognizing loneliness as a serious public health problem, but clinicians are often unprepared to properly access and manage lonely patients,” said Nathan Stall, lead researcher of the study. Stay tuned for more updates.
A recent study was able to find that loneliness can cause a substantial amount of damage to the mental health of older adults. As part of the study, the researchers first began by starting to jot down pointers about the factors that made older adults feel lonely. They found that loneliness happens to be a perceived emotion so when an older adult thinks that he or she is lonely, they're more likely to feel its effects. More often than not older adults feel lonely because of their declining health.
The researchers also found that loneliness, although deemed harmless, is actually just as harmful as any other major factors of death like heart disease and obesity. This alone is proof enough of how dangerous it can be for people to think that they're alone. This factor also works as a significant predictor when health issues are found in older adults.
Researchers now hope that with the proper amount of research and guidance, health care professionals should be able to connect lonely older adults to the right community centres and services. “Our health care system and society are increasingly recognizing loneliness as a serious public health problem, but clinicians are often unprepared to properly access and manage lonely patients,” said Nathan Stall, lead researcher of the study. Stay tuned for more updates.