Maintaining Social Interaction

In this digital age, with 24/7 internet access and the ability to connect with whoever we want whenever we want, it can be easy to forget that for some people life can be very lonely.

For younger generations, it can be hard to understand that some people simply don’t have anyone to chat to, whether it be online or face to face. But the latest research shows that 75% of older people are lonely and with more than 1 million older people regularly going an entire month without speaking to anyone, it is easy to see why.

Loneliness can be as a result of so many different factors, from bereavement to poor health, from financial constraints to lack of transport, from retirement to a lack of friends. Whatever the reason, it can have a huge impact not only on our mental health but also our physical health. In fact, it has been shown that lonely people visit their GP more often, have a higher use of medication and have higher incidences of falls.

Whilst these facts are shocking, the good news is that there are some very simple things that we can all do to help.

• Start a conversation. This might sound like an obvious thing to do but how often do you stop and speak to your elderly neighbour, how often do you take the time to ask how they are? How often do you ask your Grandma about her youth? Take the time to get to know people, it will enrich both of your lives.
• Offer practical help. Why not see if there are any jobs around the house that they would like doing? Change a lightbulb, empty the rubbish, fix a leaking tap. All of these things may seem simple for you but may make all the difference to someone living on their own.
• How about sharing a meal or making extra so that you can take it to them and ensure that they have had a good home cooked meal that week?
• Keep an eye on them for winter illness. As the weather gets colder the elderly are more susceptible to illness, check in on them, ensure that they are warm and well fed.
• Volunteer your time. Whether it is becoming a telephone buddy who rings for a chat once a week or a driver to provide transport to social events or hospital appointments, sharing your time is great way to help out.
• Help familiarise the elderly with the use of computers. They can open a whole new world for them, allowing instant access to families and friends via skype, emails or even Facebook.

Over half of people aged over 75 live alone, with 40% saying that their TV is their main source of company. Why not help change this statistic, get involved, get engaged, help make a difference, help someone enjoy life again.