May, which is recognized as national Older Americans Month, celebrates the lives and innumerable contributions of those who are age 65-plus.
It also offers community members the opportunity to say ‘thank you,’ and be reminded of important and unique challenges this population faces.
“Loneliness and social isolation greatly affect older individuals, and both have been shown to be connected with poor health outcomes,” said SSM Health Wisconsin Community Health Director Megan Timm. “It’s really important that we are all aware of this and remain well-connected with our elders.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 25% of U.S. adults age 65-plus experience social isolation. Of them, 43% report that they feel lonely on a regular basis.
Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to:
• Increased risk of premature death
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicide
• Increased dementia occurrence (estimated at 50%)
• Increased risk of heart disease (estimated at 29%) and stroke (32%)
Older individuals are at a higher risk for isolation and loneliness because they experience factors such as living alone, having family that is far away or doesn’t keep in touch, and losing more friends due to illness or age.
The good news is everyone can help.
“Little gestures can make a big difference,” Timm said.
Some ideas for helping to grow connections may include:
• Cooking and sharing a meal with loved ones, or hosting a get-together, like game night
• Regularly checking in on neighbors and helping with items like grocery shopping or yard work
• Volunteering for local organizations like Meals on Wheels, which helps seniors and people who are homebound
• Try a new skill together, like organizing family photographs and looking up genealogy information, learning a new language, or trying out a new art form.
• Attend public events or take in a live theater or music performance
• Encourage older members of the family to utilize resources like local senior centers, the YMCA, or to volunteer
It also offers community members the opportunity to say ‘thank you,’ and be reminded of important and unique challenges this population faces.
“Loneliness and social isolation greatly affect older individuals, and both have been shown to be connected with poor health outcomes,” said SSM Health Wisconsin Community Health Director Megan Timm. “It’s really important that we are all aware of this and remain well-connected with our elders.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 25% of U.S. adults age 65-plus experience social isolation. Of them, 43% report that they feel lonely on a regular basis.
Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to:
• Increased risk of premature death
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicide
• Increased dementia occurrence (estimated at 50%)
• Increased risk of heart disease (estimated at 29%) and stroke (32%)
Older individuals are at a higher risk for isolation and loneliness because they experience factors such as living alone, having family that is far away or doesn’t keep in touch, and losing more friends due to illness or age.
The good news is everyone can help.
“Little gestures can make a big difference,” Timm said.
Some ideas for helping to grow connections may include:
• Cooking and sharing a meal with loved ones, or hosting a get-together, like game night
• Regularly checking in on neighbors and helping with items like grocery shopping or yard work
• Volunteering for local organizations like Meals on Wheels, which helps seniors and people who are homebound
• Try a new skill together, like organizing family photographs and looking up genealogy information, learning a new language, or trying out a new art form.
• Attend public events or take in a live theater or music performance
• Encourage older members of the family to utilize resources like local senior centers, the YMCA, or to volunteer
