The importance of avoiding loneliness in older age

It has been found from a recent survey of over 50s caring for elderly parents that what they fear most about older age is being cut off from family and friends. An organisation called elderlyparents.org.uk found that nearly half of respondents to their survey were most concerned about being lonely in their later years. One third was concerned about home security while one in five feared not managing household tasks and five per cent were worried about being alone to cope in an emergency.

It seems that the next generation of people in their 70s and beyond will be as concerned or more for their emotional wellbeing in later life as traditionally this demographic has been for their health and continuing independence.

Mike Bingham of elderlyparents.org.uk said that older people looking after their elderly parents were now worried about not having enough time to spend with them. He said that the situation would "heap huge pressure on the so-called "sandwich generation", those people coping with the demands both of elderly parents and their own children.

Mr Bingham said that people could encourage their elderly parents to use a computer to go online and chat to other people in chat rooms, which would be good to offset their loneliness. It seems that this is a vitally needed resource for the elderly, whom it was found in the survey often went an entire month without having contact with family or neighbours. At least many of the next generation of elderly people will be able to turn to Facebook and other networking sites for their social needs!

Indeed it is very worrying when older people suffer loneliness as it has been found that loneliness in older age more than doubly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's or dementia. In the first study of its kind to investigate the link between loneliness and developing Alzheimers, it was found that respondents who admitted to being lonely were 51 per cent more likely to succumb to the condition, for each point on the score for loneliness.

Professor Robert Wilson who headed the study said:"We need to be aware that loneliness doesn't just have an emotional impact but a physical impact." He added that along with eating healthily and exercising remaining socially active and engaged is good for our quality of life. He said that further research is needed to prove that they act as a protection against Alzheimers.

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