Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in social isolation & loneliness among seniors. The social isolation older adults are experiencing now amid the pandemic are continuously putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.
Health Risks of Social Isolation & Loneliness
Accurately measuring social isolation and loneliness with exact precision is difficult, but here’s what recent studies have found:
- Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.
- Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.
- Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
- Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide.
- Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.
Social isolation & loneliness among seniors during the pandemic is real and there are currently seniors that require long-term care that are not seeking it. We would like to present Balance Assisted Living & Memory Care as the ultimate safe solution against social isolation & loneliness for seniors since our caregivers routinely provide the compassionate care and emotional support that every human being needs. Please contact us at your earliest convenience to learn more.