All the
lonely people B
where do we all belong?
ritain created The Ministry of Loneliness in 2017 to tackle what the government called a “crisis.” Here in Canada, conditions are no different. Studies show one in five of us experiences some degree of social isolation or loneliness. It only gets worse as we get older with children leaving home, friends moving away or dying. In fact, Canadian Census data shows about one-quarter
of the population aged 65 and over now live alone. Not only can that affect your mental health, but it can also increase the chances of an early death. You are lonely when your current relationships don’t meet your needs. Fortunately, Powell River is a community that takes social connection seriously. If you find yourself feeling lonely, that is a fixable problem at any age (See Page 8 for more.)
• When researchers at the University of California followed a group of seniors for six years, they found that by the end of the study, almost a quarter (22.8 percent) of all the older adults who had reported feeling isolated or lonely had died. Another 25 percent had suffered significant health declines. • In contrast, among the seniors who said they were happy or satisfied with their social lives, only 12.5 percent had declining health, and only 14.2 percent had died. • Isolated individuals are twice as likely to die prematurely than those with strong social connections. • Research shows that individuals who are less socially connected have disrupted sleep patterns, more inflammation and higher levels of stress hormones than those who have strong social connections. • One study even found that isolation increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and stroke by 32 percent. • Data shows that good relationships boost immune systems, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of dying from cancer. • Social isolation can also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and, research shows a lack of social connections is as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
BOMB Squad: 6 • ZEST 2019 • Powell River, BC
170 bridges and boardwalks with a side of cameraderie
