Elderly people are very likely to suffer from loneliness which in turn affects their mental health. Disruptions in social connections are common in older age. One study has found that between 20 to over 40% of adults aged 60 years or older report frequent or intense loneliness, and older adults who are socially disconnected carry an increased risk for reduced quality of life, physical illness and even death. Loneliness can result from different factors such as living alone, having lost a partner or friends and family living far away, for example.
Other factors such as retirement or feeling socially excluded can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation. Companionship can relieve such feelings and even improve elderly people’s lives. Companionship can come from different places - from friends, family, neighbours or carers.
Over 2 million people over the age of 75 live alone in England. Over one million say that they go over a month with no communication with friends and family, according to Age UK. These numbers are too high and the physical and mental impact of loneliness on the elderly should be cause for concern.
Loneliness has been also been named as a factor that leads to dementia, anxiety and depression. Older people who report that they experience severe loneliness are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, elderly people may even suffer from suicidal thoughts due to a lack of connection and communication with other people as often as they would like. They can become withdrawn and lose interest in interacting with others. One study found that there is a significant relationship between suicide and factors related to social disconnection/exclusion which include insufficient social support, family discord and disconnection from social activities.
In situations where family members are not emotionally or physically available to provide companionship to their loved ones due to different life factors, companions can step in. A companion is a person who offers companionship, friendship and support to another person who feels isolated and lonely.
Social connection and interaction with others are recognised as a way of improving elderly people’s lives and achieving better health outcomes. At a time when social connection seems as important as ever, having someone to speak to and share a cup of tea with, even once a week, can greatly improve outcomes for older people who are dealing with loneliness.
One study which looked at the impact of companionship on older people discovered that feelings of depression, anxiety and even feelings of being a burden on others have decreased compared to older people who did not receive the same level of companionship.
Simply having someone to talk to can positively affect an older person’s day. Knowing that their companion is coming over to spend the day with them for even a few hours can act as a powerful motivator. It’s great to have something to look forward to during the week, break the monotony and fatigue which is often associated with retirement and old age.
Here at Guardian Carers, we help people pick the right companionship service to suit them and their needs. They may choose someone to come to visit them once a week for a few hours, they may have a companion visit them 5 days per week or even live-in the home as a live-in companion/ companion-carer.
Companionship not only alleviates feelings of anxiety and depression but also reduces loneliness, therefore preventing emotional and physical ailments which often occur in older people. Oftentimes, companions end up becoming good friends with the elderly people they are visiting. They create long-lasting bonds and stay connected for years.
Having the opportunity to exercise one’s mind and maybe do things which they would not do any other day will help to improve their mental capacities. The brain is an organ which left unused can atrophy.
A companion should be regarded more as a friend. They will be there to share a cup of coffee and listen to the person’s life wisdom collected over the years or simply talk about current events, read the papers and debate the goings-on in the world.
They can support the person by keeping them engaged and active, sharing in their hobbies and interests. They can accompany them on various outings and events such as going to meet friends, going to the cinema or theatre, going shopping and more or less anything that they enjoy doing. They can even go on trips together, visit museums and art galleries. They can also support the older person with cooking and baking, making it a fun activity for both to share in.
When picking a companion, it’s essential that their personality matches the one of the person they will be providing companionship for. Here at Guardian Carers, we take great care in ensuring that we create perfect matches between our companions and our clients. We think it’s crucial to look at similarities in personalities, interests and hobbies when trying to find the right companion for the elderly.
It’s evident that companionship for the elderly has many benefits which impact both the elderly and their families and can lead to improved life outcomes. Loneliness is very dangerous for the elderly. Considering that more than 2 million elderly people in the UK suffer from loneliness and the older population is only projected to rise, loneliness should be considered a public health concern. Companionship services are the solution to combatting the loneliness problem for older people.
Give us a call. We are ready to help. We believe we can find your perfect carer.