Senior Living

Older Adults are Getting Creative to Combat Loneliness during the Pandemic

Are sleepovers at Grandma's house and Storytime with Grandpa just a fond memory? Has your weekly poker game or girls' night out been replaced with Zoom calls and Facetime? Are you missing the interactions with your church group? Is a "No Visitors" policy keeping you from someone you love? Although it may feel otherwise, you are not alone.

If you're in the 65-plus age group, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has probably changed how you interact with the people you care about. Social distancing and self-quarantine may be limiting your exposure to infection. But if you're like millions of people nationwide, it's also limiting your social interactions and increasing your loneliness and feelings of isolation.

The end result is a real health concern. According to a nationwide study, an estimated 25% of adults over 65 were socially isolated even before the pandemic hit. But now, that number is likely much higher with stay-at-home orders.

Watching friends and family reconnect and enjoy each other's company while you remain sidelined at home can increase your feelings of loneliness if you can't join in.

Even as states begin to reopen, you may need to remain quarantined to safeguard your health or the health of someone you live with. Watching friends and family reconnect and enjoy each other's company while you stay sidelined at home can increase your feelings of loneliness if you can't join in.

The risk to your well-being can be challenging to measure. Taking steps to stay connected—even if your interactions are all online—can help minimize your health effects.

Health risks of loneliness

Loneliness and isolation can lead to serious health challenges if left unresolved. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they can cause: • Increased rates of anxiety, suicide, and depression • Four times the risk of premature death • 50% increase in dementia • 29% increase in heart disease • 32% increase in stroke

Restrictions brought on by the pandemic make it more challenging to stay connected, but the difference it can make in your overall well-being makes it well worth the effort.

Embrace the challenge

Virtual contact may not replace a hug or holding a small hand in yours, but it can help you stay in touch with your loved ones while protecting your health and theirs. A simple phone call lets you talk to the people you care about even though you're apart. Facetime allows you to see their faces and surroundings while you chat. Add Zoom to the mix, and you can get the whole family involved.

Virtual contact may not replace a hug or holding a small hand in yours, but it can help you stay in touch with your loved ones while protecting your health and theirs.

Embrace the available technology and expand your opportunities to remain an active participant in the lives of the people close to you—even when you can't be together. And keep in mind, this won't be forever.

Distance without isolation

Social isolation doesn't have to lead to loneliness if you take steps to stay connected to the people you care about. If your circle of family or friends is limited, a virtual community of support can give you the companionship and interaction you're looking for.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started: • The Connect2Affect program from AARP offers self-assessments and information on various ways to reduce isolation and loneliness. • Make some art with the Unlonely Project and its Stuck at Home initiative that lets you view others' masterpieces or share your own. • Become a digital volunteer (https://www.si.edu/volunteer/DigitalVolunteers) with the Smithsonian Institute and help expand access to their collections and participate in various online research programs.

Nearly 1 million virtual volunteers are needed to fill all the opportunities listed on Volunteer Match, an online directory of virtual volunteer opportunities.

U.S. Administration on Aging Eldercare Locator is a federal public service that connects you to services and information designed to help you build a community of support.

Assistance from a Distance is a Papa, Inc. program that connects college students and older adults for various services, ranging from technology to virtual companionship.

It's essential to ask for help.

If you've tried different coping methods and are still feeling persistent sadness or overwhelming depression, it may be time to ask for help. Talking through your feelings and experiences with a trained professional can help you develop your coping skills and adapt to a worldwide pandemic's realities. Many healthcare providers are offering telemedicine counseling right now.