Seniors who are housebound or isolated tend to have more health issues than seniors who are more active and involved in life, according to health specialists who care for older people.

And they weren't only noticing depression. Diabetes and heart disease were among the illnesses that tended to affect lonely older people more frequently. It inspired scholars to dig deeper into the problem.

They were all astounded by what they discovered. The truth is that loneliness is now widely believed to be a serious threat to senior citizens' health.

What leads older adults to feel alone?

There are several reasons why the elderly sequester themselves. The most typical examples are:

Mobility:

Older people frequently experience anxiety when chronic health issues make getting around more difficult. They like to stay close to home since they are afraid of falling.

Access:

Access to transit may be restricted for seniors once they hang up their keys and stop driving. This is especially true for senior citizens who reside in more remote areas without access to public transit.

Social Circulation Declines:

The reduction of their social network is another frequent cause of isolation among older people. In order to explore new professional prospects, children relocate. Friends move to a new location to be closer to their own kids. And older family members might have passed away. The elderly person might feel lost and alone as a result.

Isolation's effect on seniors

Research has now established that isolation causes a number of issues, such as:

• Malnutrition
• Obesity
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Elevated blood pressure

Seniors who are lonely are more likely to fall for fraud, including false sweepstakes and home repair scams.

Age-related isolation and its reduction

What can adult children and family caregivers do to avoid an elderly relative's isolation?

Here are some recommendations:

• Aid them in researching local travel choices. A useful resource for this is the local agency on aging.
• Help your loved one feel connected to friends and family if you are unable to see them frequently by using a video chat service like Skype or a social media site like Facebook.
• Ask whether there is a friendly visitor program at their church or synagogue. Each week, volunteers from a variety of religious organizations set aside time to visit homebound elders in their neighborhood.
• Encourage your elderly family member to relocate to a senior living facility. An older adult may find that the connections, fellowship, and life-enrichment programs are precisely what they need to get over their loneliness and the blues.
• Visit The Campaign to End Loneliness: Connections in Older Age to read more about how crucial it is to maintain connections in later life.