Risks of Loneliness and Benefits of Companion Care

Loneliness “Worse Than Smoking”

- Professional Advice to Protect Your Loved One’s Health This Winter

We commonly look to vitamins or physical activity to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy, especially as winter approaches. But while both nutritional supplements and exercise are important, they fail to address one of the greatest health challenges facing seniors today.

"Worse than smoking 15 cigarettes a day." These were the findings cited by the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in the spring of 2023 when he declared loneliness and social isolation to have now reached levels of national epidemic proportions.

Here at home in British Columbia, twenty percent of our population is now over 65 and nearly 30% of seniors live alone. The latest census revealed 77% of BC seniors over the age of 85 are living alone - with solo living accommodations found to be as high as 90% among women. 

On an individual level, a staggering43% of seniors report feeling lonely on a regular basis. The emotional toll of that loneliness, in itself, causes significant concern for those of us caring for a senior loved one. However, recent research indicates loneliness is actually a root cause of many common degenerative diseases we’ve come to associate with aging.

Loneliness: An Immunometabolic Syndrome

Loneliness, as described in the Public Library of Science medical journal, “Is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline.” A separate report from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health even went so far as to declare loneliness an Immunometabolic Syndrome emphasizing the damaging effects of loneliness impact everything from stress response to glycemic control and fat metabolism. 

Considering how Diabetes and pre-diabetes are increasingly being shown to exacerbate nearly every other age-related disease - the link to loneliness is one we would be wise to consider.

Personal Connection: The Best Medicine

From our perspective as in-home care providers, the link between loneliness and health is not surprising. It’s exciting to see medical research back up what we have consistently witnessed among our clients for years. We frequently receive reports from our clients testifying to the power of regularly scheduled caregiver visits to lift spirits, engage minds and energize bodies. 

What surprises our Care Support Team is how little regularly scheduled interaction can be required to create noticeable emotional and physical improvements. Just one to two short weekly companionship visits may be all it takes to help a senior make the shift from struggling and flourishing.

Loneliness researchers also emphasize the importance of strong relational support systems - not simply for short-term happiness, but for staving off degenerative and cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's and dementia.

The Benefits of an Expanded Support Network

Many families desire to take on all the responsibility for their loved one’s emotional connection and social interaction, but physical distance or work commitments often make such a goal difficult to achieve. This is where building a quality support network can be invaluable. Scheduling even a single weekly companionship visit not only adds an enjoyable point of connection but reduces anxiety for loved ones and family alike. 

Our clients especially appreciate this extra layer of support in the winter season when family or friend connections may be diminished due to illness, inclement weather or travel. The assurance of knowing you and your loved one are supported by a team of caring professionals…is priceless.

A Little Help Brightens Long Winter Days

With the long days of West Coast winter just around the corner, now is the perfect time to boost the support systems (and immune systems) of your loved one.

Be encouraged:  the emotional weight and responsibility of your loved one's well-being need not fall solely on your shoulders, even if you are currently the primary caregiver and source of relational connection. By engaging just a little extra help from someone outside your family, you and your loved one will both enjoy the emotional, mental and physical health benefits that come with reduced anxiety and greater peace of mind.

Professional Help in Greater Victoria and Beyond

If you live in Greater Victoria, the Saanich Pennisula or Langford-Sooke-Colwood areas our Care Support Team is ready to work with you to create a Personalized Care Plan© to help your loved one flourish in every season.