I recently attended a webinar ”The Epidemic of Loneliness” presented by Alex Elswick, PhD, from University of Kentucky Extension. Dr Elswick quoted the 2023 report in which The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory about how loneliness and isolation can have detrimental effects on health. It seems that perhaps society have become too good at ‘social distancing’. Even in a time when connectivity often means how good is our Wi-Fi or internet, we aren’t connecting with each other.
“It’s hard to put a price tag, if you will, on the amount of human suffering that people are experiencing right now,” Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told All Things Considered.
“In the last few decades, we’ve just lived through a dramatic pace of change. We move more, we change jobs more often, we are living with technology that has profoundly changed how we interact with each other and how we talk to each other.” “And you can feel lonely even if you have a lot of people around you, because loneliness is about the quality of your connections.” There is a difference between solitude and lonely. Solitude is being alone by choice and not feeling lonely. Everyone needs social connections to thrive and survive.
In the same advisory it says that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults in the U.S. reported experiencing “measurable levels of loneliness”. Some physical consequences of poor connection can include a 50% increased risk of developing dementia among older adults; 32% more at risk for a stroke; and 29% increased risk of heart disease. There is an increased distrust of others, noted in the advisory as well.
Enough about the problem, here are some potential solutions. As always, good self-care is important; exercise, healthy eating, sleep (7-9 hours per day), doing all the things that reduce stress. According to a National Institute on Aging publication, “People who engage in meaningful, productive activities they enjoy with others feel a sense of purpose and tend to live longer.”
Protect and maintain current relationships, be purposeful in communicating with those important folks in life. Spend time with them in-person or virtually. For example, a regular lunch appointment with a long-time friend. My mother would have friends over for coffee, so even being home bound she saw friends every day. Engaging in an old hobby or starting a new one can increase social interactions with others. Take a class or join a group. Learning helps make new connections in the brain and socially. A pet can protect health and be a way to connect with others too.
Planning to make public spaces more inviting for social connections as a society will make connections easier. Try adding some chairs to your porch or patio or using the public areas at your housing development. Reconnect with someone today.
Written by: Ken Stewart, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County.
Reviewed by: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.
Sources:
The Epidemic of Loneliness, Elswick, Alex -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O1zApCGYik
Health and Human Services Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (hhs.gov)
If you are lucky enough to have elderly parents, you know what a precious gift it is to have them. However, with this precious gift of time, there are some challenges that occur as they age and need your help. It is difficult when the roles of parent and child begin to shift and the children become the caregivers. One of the most complicated issues is when there is a need to take over your parents’ finances. Taking control can be awkward and complicated, but putting it off too long can make it very difficult to sort out all of their accounts and make the necessary legal steps to ensure your ability to successfully manage your parent’s money.
http://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/power-and-control-wheel
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