H E A LT H & B E AU T Y ···
LET’S HELP FIGHT LONELINESS TOGETHER By Rachel Garrod
We have a pandemic! No, not COVID-19 – loneliness. In a report from 2017, 45 per cent of adults said they felt “occasionally, sometimes or often, lonely”. Recent events have, of course, exacerbated loneliness; lockdowns, social isolation and the inability to see our loved ones have been debilitating for many. Loneliness is a health issue. People who consider themselves to be lonely, much of the time, are more likely to develop heart disease and strokes; have poorer health outcomes than those who smoke 15 cigarettes a day; and be at greater risk of cognitive decline or dementia than people who report feeling lonely only occasionally. Loneliness can hit anyone, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Loneliness can be emotional – relationships not being what you desire; or social – lack of social interaction. Lockdowns have inevitably increased our sense of social isolation. For expats living in Spain loneliness can be further exacerbated by a sense of “not fitting in” or a loss of things from our native country, and if we are not great at speaking Spanish this sense of isolation can be worsened. So what is there to help those who may feel lonely in Spain? I am a volunteer for the charity Age Concern-Marbella and San Pedro, which is running a campaign aimed at tackling loneliness: “Befriend a neighbour”. We will be reaching out via radio advertisements, newspaper articles and flyers. Even short interactions – such as a “Hello” on the street from a neighbour, a coffee and chat, or just a message, “Hi how are you?” – can help alleviate loneliness. We are hoping that if there is a neighbour you know, who is older, possibly vulnerable and suffering from social isolation, you can take a little time to knock on the door, to say “Hi” and just facilitate a culture of friendliness. Age Concern is also organising coffee mornings in cafés throughout Marbella and San Pedro, and for vulnerable clients we can arrange for a volunteer to become a “buddy” who will be there for weekly chats and visits. Age Concern will help with trips to hospitals and shopping, but people need communities, and we can only achieve that if we all take the time to act thoughtfully. Right now, there are far too many people sitting alone with only the television for company. For more information on how to receive our newsletters, become a client or just get a little help, please visit our website: www. ageconcernmarbella.com. Or call our Helpline: (+34) 689 355 198. Together we’re better. Rachel Garrod (Ph.D. Physiotherapist) specialises in physiotherapy for older people with chronic respiratory disease and other chronic illnesses. rachelgarrod1@gmail.com / Tel. (+34) 699 501 190 160
JULY & AUGUST 2021
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