Seniors are hit the hardest by loneliness, with 1 out of 4 seniors in the community living alone and 43% report that they feel lonely. Loneliness is more than simply being alone. It can involve feeling insignificant, isolated, and ignored. Loneliness is also bad for health, as it can worsen depression, anxiety, and dementia, and increase the risk of falls and other serious injuries. Relationships and connection are the answer to loneliness.
A companion is someone who walks beside you in life keeping you company and bringing joy and connection to your day. Companion care offers a solution to help seniors age well at home without suffering the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness.
What Causes Social Isolation?
Dr. Shadi Gholizadeh, Head of Quality and Clinical Development at TheKey, states that “loneliness is a very significant issue among older adults.” As seniors age it is natural for there to be changes in life that result in fewer social connections.
Life events and transitions such as retirement, changes in health, and the death of a spouse and/or peers often result in seniors facing a smaller and smaller circle of people that they connect with on a regular basis. They may struggle with staying socially active during retirement or making new friends.
Modern technology also allows us to get everything we need without leaving the house. While this is beneficial for seniors with limited mobility, it can also limit their daily interactions and opportunities for connection.
Furthermore, changes in health can make it difficult for seniors to keep relationships active. There may be:
- A loss of hearing, which makes it harder to have conversations
- A loss of vision, which can make it risky to leave the house
- Injuries, illnesses, or hospitalizations which keep people bed-ridden or too exhausted to leave their homes
Although some changes may happen naturally with aging, regular social connections can have a protective effect on the elderly. Companionship can help seniors find more joy in their lives by sharing old memories and creating new ones. Companions can also help facilitate existing relationships by assisting with phone and video technology and transportation.
Companion Care in Action
Imagine Janet, an older woman, alone in her kitchen, looking through a photo album of her young children who are now all grown. The loneliness washes over her but she doesn’t want to pick up the phone and bother her children.
Now imagine Janet sitting and looking at her photo album, and across the table sits her companion caregiver with whom she shares stories about the pictures. They laugh together at the toddling picture of her son with a sand bucket filled with frogs. Janet sighs and says she wishes she could see him but “he’s just so busy and far away”. The caregiver offers to help her set up a quick video call with him, so she can see his face and reminisce with him, too.
Negative Effects of Loneliness
Human connection is vital to living a fulfilling and healthy life. Research has shown that the long-term consequences of loneliness and social isolation increases your risk for:
- Dementia by 50%
- Stroke by 32%
- Heart disease by 29%
Without consistent human connection a senior can experience a rise in feelings of depression and anxiety. Poor eating habits, eating alone, and not getting enough exercise can contribute to obesity and poor health. Without the cognitive stimulation that interaction with others provides, symptoms of cognitive decline can worsen.
Companion Care in Action
Imagine Rob, a senior man, who recently lost his ability to drive because of advanced cataracts. Isolation and boredom have caused him to neglect some daily hygiene and household tasks. He eats crackers and processed meat because going to the store and cooking has become too difficult.
When his caregiver comes to visit, Rob is motivated to put on a clean shirt and comb his hair. Rob mentions how he used to love going to his favourite restaurant but can’t drive there anymore. The caregiver arranges for them both to go to the restaurant together and Rob is pleasantly surprised when the waitress recognizes him and says she missed seeing him. For the first time in a long time, Rob enjoys a fresh, warm meal and a lovely conversation.
Loneliness has a devastating effect on seniors leading to more injuries from falls and hospital admissions. But there is hope! Loneliness and social isolation can be recognized and there is a solution.
Signs of Loneliness
The first step is to look for the signs of loneliness in yourself or your loved one. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to share the truth about your social situation.
Look for these signs in your senior loved one:
- Expressing feelings of being lonely
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Irresponsible behaviour such as engaging with telemarketers, giving away large sums of money, or being taken in by scams
- Complaining about not sleeping well or experiencing pain
- Showing a lack of care over physical appearance
- Emotional changes
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness
It is okay to ask the hard questions and be open to hear the answers. You might ask:
- “Do you have someone to call if there was an emergency at 2 am?”
- “Who do you see outside of the home?”
- “What activities do you look forward to?”
- “If you could change one thing about your life, what would you change?”
If you identify a need for extra social support, consider companion care.
What is Companion Care?
Companion care is an impactful service that a professional caregiver provides. A companion caregiver can help with a senior that is feeling isolated and needs assistance to live comfortably on their own.
A companion may help with:
- Accompaniment to social outings
- Participating in a favourite hobby or activity
- Personal connection and conversation
- Keeping the home hazard- and obstacle-free
By spending time regularly with a companion, a senior loved one can feel like they are seen and known again. The companion will learn what their likes, needs and preferences are. A companion can ask questions about their family, both past and present, and what activities are important to them.
Not only does a companion caregiver provide the valuable service of helping a senior to be connected and engaged, but the companion also provides a safety net. Regular visits allow the companion to supervise a senior’s safety and are a key tool in preventing falls in older adults.
Your loved one can also benefit from a companion caregiver assisting with activities of daily living that may have become overwhelming, such as light housekeeping, grocery shopping, or personal hygiene.
How Companion Caregivers Help
Companion caregivers can benefit seniors by providing regular, personalized, social interactions. Seniors who particularly benefit from companion care include:
- Those with dementia who are not safe on their own and would benefit from regular activities and conversation
- Those who need company and help at home but are not in need of medical care
- People who live far away from family connections
- People who are isolated because of having trouble getting out of the house or being unable to drive anymore
- Someone who is returning home after a hospital stay
- Anyone experiencing poor health or mental decline
A companion caregiver can help keep a senior loved one safe, engaged, and active. Having a reliable caregiver that provides in-home assistance for seniors can give a much-needed rest for family caregivers.
Relationships are foundational to our lives and this doesn’t change as we age. Loneliness and social isolation has devastating effects on the health and safety of seniors living alone. Companion care offers one more option to help keep your loved one engaged and connected. Companion caregivers are more than just visitors or friends, they can also help with activities of daily living, preventing falls, and staying socially active.
Reach out to TheKey today to find out how a companion caregiver could assist your senior loved one with the social connections they need.