Hadar Swersky on How to Deal With Loneliness at an old Age

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, etc. are known as the leading causes of health decline. Isolation and loneliness can be linked to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions. At times, feelings of loneliness are heightened if seniors have had to separate themselves from dear ones. But, there are a range of methods on how to decrease social isolation. While it is not fair to assume that all seniors who live alone are lonely, at times living alone can result in social isolation and loneliness.

Loneliness is proven to have negative effects on health, like:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Anxiety
• Weakened immune system
• Cognitive decline
• Depression
• Alzheimer’s disease 
• Death

Hadar Swersky says that you may not be aware of resources or activities designed to battle loneliness. Loneliness is something that must be treated as a mental, physical, and spiritual concern. With the significance of relationships in mind, following are some ways to manage lonesomeness.

• Even though it might be hard, it is essential to create some sort of structure in your everyday life. At times people find themselves bound to couches and beds, but taking some time out of your day to be productive can help you feel a sense of “normalcy.” Try to set an alarm and wake up at a sensible time. Start your day off with a plan and an idea of things you can attain. If you need to fill up your schedule, attend a virtual exercise class, try to do yard work, play a game, read a book, or cook a meal. Whatever you select to do in your day, make sure it is something you enjoy. 
• In the age of social media, searching for ways to connect is easier than ever before. If you have found yourself missing dear ones, schedule a video call with them. You can share stories of the past and any of your favorite memories. There are many games you can play with your friends and family on video call too. 
• Seniors can even attend a free virtual class or workshop. Classes can vary from support groups, with people who are searching to chat about their lives, to more active classes, like aerobics or exercising. To learn more about the resources in your region, reach out to a family member, friend, community leader or your doctor. They can likely suggest some options that would work with your schedule and interests.
• Trying something new can be entertaining and thrilling. A lot of older adults enjoy trying things like knitting, gardening, learning an instrument or arts and crafts. Now is the time to investigate headfirst into learning something you might have never had the time to do before.
• Many people like to be imaginative as they get older. Whether it involves performing music, writing books, or painting art, creativity is something that makes the mind happier. This is one part of dealing with loneliness that many seniors enjoy. A creative person is always someone who thinks more about the several great things one can do. You should think about being a little more creative in your life as well. You can attend an art or music class where you can learn how to play an instrument or how many key principles of artwork.

Hadar Swersky says thatloneliness and depression should not be a burden to your life as you age. Just go through the above-mentioned points and you will feel better about yourself.

5 Creative Ways to Help an Elderly Person Feel Less Lonely

Loneliness can be a difficult emotion for everyone to handle, but it can be especially difficult for elderly people. Without typical social contact, elderly people can feel isolated and disconnected from the world around them. 

Fortunately, there are several creative ways to help an elderly person feel less lonely. Whether it’s finding ways to keep them connected with the outside world or giving them a reason to look forward to the day, these five ideas can help an elderly person feel less isolated and more connected to the world around them. 

1. Regular Visits

Regular visits can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely. Whether it’s a weekly visit or a daily visit, setting up regular visits can give someone a reason to get out of the house and feel connected to the outside world. Whether you want to visit an elderly person you know in a nursing home, a person you know that lives alone, or an elderly person in your neighborhood, regular visits can help an elderly person feel less lonely and more connected to the outside world.

• Take Them Out

For many elderly people, staying inside their homes is a regular occurrence. With health issues, the weather, and other factors keeping them inside, an elderly person may not get out enough to feel connected to the outside world. Taking them out regularly can help them feel like they’re part of the world around them. Whether it’s going out for coffee or to a museum, taking them out regularly can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely and more connected to the outside world.

• Connect Them With Technology

For many elderly people, the computer or smartphone may have been something they relied on as a regular part of their life. With the rise of internet use and the popularity of many technology-driven activities, it can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely. Whether it’s taking part in a forum, chatting with friends over the video, or connecting with family members through social media, connecting with technology can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely and more connected to the outside world.

• Get a Pet

For many elderly people, loneliness can be a struggle to overcome. As a way to help an elderly person feel less lonely, getting them a pet can be a great idea. Although they may not feel like they have the energy or time to care for a pet, a cat or dog can be a great companion and help an elderly person feel less lonely as a result.

• Join a Group

For many elderly people, a source of loneliness may be a lack of social interaction. Although they may have family members or other loved ones, not everyone has that and many elderly people feel isolated as a result. Joining a group or club can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely. Whether it’s a book club or gardening club, finding a group of people they can connect with regularly can be a great way to help an elderly person feel less lonely.

Health Effects of Loneliness in Older Adults

The health effects of loneliness in older adults are well known. But what causes loneliness in older adults? Research into older people suggests that some factors are more likely to trigger loneliness than others. Among these factors are social isolation, decreased income, loss of family members and decreased mobility. Moreover, the level of loneliness was found to be more closely related to baseline poor health than to social isolation. While these associations were weaker for depression, arthritis and mobility impairment, loneliness was still associated with multiple disease outcomes.

However, the prevalence estimates of loneliness in older adults differ from study to study. Although the prevalence of loneliness in older adults is high enough to justify interventions, the estimates vary from one study to the next, likely due to the different sample populations and measurement approaches. Thus, further research is necessary to improve the reliability and validity of loneliness measures. In the meantime, future studies must develop ways to maximize comparability among loneliness survey questions. The two most frequently used loneliness scales are the dJG Loneliness Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. While both scales have been proven reliable and valid, the multidimensionality of the two scales in older populations must be addressed. Harmonization efforts may make these tools more easily comparable.

One approach to reduce loneliness and social isolation in older adults is heterogeneous interventions. These interventions are delivered either in a care home or community setting. They can also be delivered one-on-one or in groups. The study design should match interventions to the population. And, although many studies have proven that they work, they are not universally effective. In addition to being generalizable, they should be tailored to each individual’s needs.

Researchers have identified that loneliness is a major risk factor for many diseases. A systematic review of loneliness research shows that older people who report feeling lonely are more likely to suffer from mental and physical ailments. Despite its health effects, however, research on loneliness in older adults still lags behind. The researchers conclude that further research should focus on determining the risk factors that make older adults lonely. The researchers also suggest that loneliness interventions can help improve the quality of life of older adults.

Previous studies have identified a link between social support and loneliness. Research has shown that aging adults who are socially isolated may benefit from social connection interventions, while those without cognitive impairment or dementia may benefit from a multifaceted approach. There are many social-cognition-related factors that can influence loneliness, and these factors are also thought to affect cognitive functioning. The next step in reducing loneliness in older adults is research that uses multi-faceted interventions. Researchers have discovered that loneliness affects the body in a similar way to chronic stress. Loneliness raises levels of stress hormones, which impair immune responses and lead to inflammation. The prolonged loneliness in older adults may make them more susceptible to a variety of chronic health conditions, including depression, cardiovascular diseases, and depression. Moreover, loneliness has been associated with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. So what causes loneliness in older adults?

Tips for dealing with loneliness with seniors

Elders’ mental and physical health suffers as a result of loneliness. Take action if you’re concerned about your aging parents or another family member. Many simple things may make seniors feel less lonely; one person can begin the process. Here are some recommendations for helping a lonely loved one, according to Hadar Swersky, Co-founder and chairman of the Age group:

• Pay attention.

Listening to a person is sometimes the best thing you can do for them. Simply being present and listening to your loved ones can help them feel less alone. Ask inquiries and encourage your loved one to speak up. It may not come naturally at first, but your eagerness to study will pay off in the end.

• Come up with a plan.

In addition to listening, spend time learning about your loved one’s hobbies and developing a plan to include them in daily life. If your significant other enjoys music, take them to a concert or encourage them to join a community chorus. If that’s too much for you, simply taking an hour out of your day to do something fun with your partner might have a significant impact.

• Make a new hobby for yourself.

Learning new skills is the best method to keep your mind young, according to Hadar Swersky, Co-founder and chairman of the Age group. Encourage your loved one to take up a new hobby or activity to stay active and meet new people. Joining a book club, forming a knitting circle, or attending weekly programs at the community center are all suggestions.

• Bridge the gap

Finding someone to connect with for elderly parents and those who are lonely may not be as difficult as they believe. One of the best possibilities is to connect your loved one with younger relatives. Spending time with grandparents, nieces, and nephews may teach them a lot, and it can also help your loved one feel more involved in family gatherings.

• Attend a class or a talk.

Encourage your loved ones to get out of the house and meet new people by enrolling them in a class or seminar while they are still ambulatory. Check if your community center or institution provides any free senior programs. Inquire about the library’s planned activities.

• Someone needs to get instructed.

If a class is a too much commitment for your loved one, have them teach you something instead of enrolling in one. Solicit a lesson from your loved one based on what you’ve learned from listening. All offered is sound advice and expertise. That will help find meaning in life and restore some child-parent relationships. It can be lost when children become carers for their aging parents.

• Return your favor.

Volunteering has numerous physical and mental advantages for lonely seniors. Volunteering keeps the brain engaged in addition to increasing physical activity. Participating in meaningful activities can reduce the incidence of dementia and physical health issues in seniors, according to the National Institute on Aging. Furthermore, it will allow your loved one to leave the house and participate in a community.

How loneliness can affect the elderly adults in a negative way?

Among the numerous health concerns that can ensue seniors, loneliness is one of the most frequent and least discussed. With aging come a number of factors that add to isolation and loneliness, such as the deaths of partners and close friends, family members moving away, and the start of incapacitating illnesses. Worse, loneliness itself can cause a number of health-related problems for seniors, including depression, increased risk mortality, dementia care, cognitive decline, high blood pressure, and a number of other conditions.

The biggest contributing factor to senior loneliness is living alone. But, there are several other factors that can lead to isolation and loneliness in seniors. These factors include:

• Children moving away
• The death of one’s spouse
• The deterioration of a friend network (often due to death)
• A change in living environment
• The fear of going out and incurring an injury
• Illness (particularly dementia)
• The fear of becoming a burden
• Difficulty communicating (i.e. language barriers and hearing problems)

Each of these factors can result in increased loneliness in seniors. Increased loneliness can, as a result, lead to a number of serious health effects.

• Enhanced Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia

As a mental condition, loneliness has a number of negative effects on mental health. In seniors, these effects are mostly seen as cognitive decline and the onset of several forms of dementia. Loneliness is a risk factor for, and may contribute to, faster cognitive decline, poorer overall cognitive performance, and the onset of dementia.

• Reduced Physical and Mental Health

Loneliness has a direct connection to both physical and mental health and this connection is not a good one. Seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report also having poor physical and/or mental health. While the link between loneliness and overall health are still being explored by the medical community, one thing is clear: Loneliness has a harmful effect on health in a number of ways.

• Increased Risk of High Blood Pressure

It has been found that loneliness in older adults an increase systolic blood pressure over a 4-year period. These increases in blood pressure were independent of ethnicity, race, gender, and other possible contributing factors.

With the negative health effects of loneliness now clear, it is evident that addressing loneliness is essential in maintaining the health and well-being of any senior individual. In many cases, the first step to addressing loneliness is recognizing it. If you believe that a senior in your life may be struggling with loneliness, search for these signs and symptoms:

• Loss of interest in hobbies, socializing, or other daily activities
• Sadness or feelings of despair
• Sleep disturbances and memory problems
• Lack of energy or motivation
• Neglect of personal hygiene and other routines
• Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains

While loneliness can be detrimental to health, it can also be alleviated through a number of activities and treatments. For most seniors, the increased presence of people is all that is required to alleviate loneliness. This can be achieved in a number of ways, including scheduling regular outings and visits with friends and family, volunteering, attending senior activities in the community, and making the move to an independent or assisted living community.

Hadar Swersky on Whether ADHD Can be Cured

Experts say that ADHD cannot be treated. Early management and diagnosis with an excellent treatment plan can assist an individual manage their symptoms. The treatment of ADHD depends on a number of factors such as:

• Severity of symptoms
• Age
• Predominant symptoms

There are medications and therapies available for ADHD with studies showing their efficiency. Therapy options may differ from individual to individual based on their intensity, symptoms, and duration. The available therapies assist in reducing the symptoms and allow functioning with less or no complexity. The treatment options seen to be efficient for ADHD are:

Behavior Therapy

 It aims at developing and increasing preferred suitable behavior and eliminates or diminishes the undesired one. There are a few behavior therapies that are efficient. Contingency management is common among them. To strengthen behavior the individual is rewarded whenever they engage in that behavior. For instance, to increase attention, a kid may be given reward whenever he/she finishes a task that necessitates constant mental attention.

Medications

 Medications, like stimulants, are seen to reduce ADHD symptoms effectively. They are not the permanent cure but they do assist in managing the symptoms. The assist an individual focus better, augment their attention, stay peaceful, control their impulsivity and obtain new skills.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

 Here, the individual is taught self-control via problem-solving tactics, verbal self-instruction, self-evaluation and other tactics. Children with ADHD tend to fail to recognize internal cues. CBT assists them identify them and deal with them. The client is taught to control their inattentive and impulsive behavior.

Parents Training

 Hadar Swersky, the author of “Winning in business with ADHD” and Parents Training says parents training is also a kind of behavior therapy. Here, parents are taught how to help the child reduce symptoms. This has also been seen to augment the parent-child relationship. Parents are taught behavior techniques, for instance, contingency management, and how to apply it on the child. Not only parents but the caregivers of the child can engage in the training as they are the ones who are the most direct to the child.

Studies show that the mix of both therapy and medications is effective in lessening ADHD symptoms. Along with the therapies support from parents and teachers are also necessary to perk up the child’s behavior.