The Issue of Social Isolation Among Seniors

By: Atharva Deshpande

aplaceformom.com

With the fast-paced nature of society today, social isolation has emerged as one of the big issues faced by people around the world. Seniors in particular are impacted by social isolation more than any other age group. 30% of seniors in Canada are at risk of being socially isolated, and 19-24% of seniors wished they could be engaged in more social activities. Social isolation affects seniors at a higher rate due to the many changes that may occur in their lives. These include physical disabilities like losing eyesight or hearing, or other factors such as losing family members and friends or suffering from poverty. The nature of the consequences of social isolation like mental health issues, premature death, chronic disabilities, and conditions like dementia make it an issue that needs to be put at the forefront of discourse surrounding issues faced by seniors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only made the issue of social isolation worse. With lockdowns that discontinuously lasted for the last 2 years, it has made it much harder for people to stay in contact. Many recreational activities that seniors may have engaged in very well could have been put temporarily on hold, which would have exacerbated the issue of isolation. The pandemic also led to the loss of jobs for many, which presents as two separate issues for seniors: loss of income as well as loss of daily interactions. Both of these issues are risk factors for social isolation.

While social isolation can affect anyone, certain protective factors can prevent this issue such as having a good supportive network, being financially secure, living in a safe neighborhood, having a higher level of education, and more. The community surrounding seniors can also play a role in preventing social isolation. Creating activities for seniors to engage in, like classes for cooking or learning languages, generally helps seniors feel involved in society. Solving the issue of social isolation needs to be a collective effort; which is why it is important to support organizations like Connecting Seniors with Care, Sage Seniors Association, ElderCare Edmonton, and many more in their efforts to reduce isolation with seniors.

References

Social isolation of seniors - Volume 1: Understanding the issue and finding solutions. (2021, May 20). Canada.ca. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/partners/seniors-forum/social-isolation-toolkit-vol1.html#section6