Loneliness among the elderly can lead to health problems. Loneliness has been receiving a lot of attention over the past few years, especially in the Republic of Singapore.
It is worrying to hear news of the impact and damaging consequences of this ‘state of mind’ as we will come to discuss. Already in 2019, more and more of the country’s elderly citizens (baby boomers) are facing this new battle as they retire. In this article by Pacific Prime Singapore, we will look at some of the reasons for loneliness in the population, make suggestions on how society can together alleviate this problem, and discuss how comprehensive health insurance coverage in Singapore can help to fight the consequences of loneliness. Why are Singaporeans living longer? In Singapore, men and women are expected to live up to 78.8 years and 83.3 years, respectively, and one of the main reasons behind this is the country’s decades of investment in its healthcare system.
That includes programs oriented on early prevention and detection of chronic diseases. Aging population. Causes of Social Isolation in Elderly Adults. No one likes to feel lonely or isolated, but for many seniors, it’s a feeling they know all too well.
As we get older, our children move away, we lose touch with friends, and sometimes have difficulty getting out of the house to socialize. Impact of COVID-19. Seniors felt less socially satisfied, more isolated during Covid-19 circuit breaker period: Survey, Singapore News. SINGAPORE - Social isolation during the circuit breaker period resulted in lower social satisfaction levels for senior citizens, according to results from a monthly survey of about 7,500 people aged between 55 and 75 here. Social satisfaction levels dipped by about 4 per cent in May when compared with data from January. In particular, for senior citizens living with others, satisfaction levels fell to the pre-circuit breaker levels of peers living alone, while those living alone saw even lower satisfaction levels as safe distancing measures made it more difficult to find support from friends and the community.
As of July, while satisfaction levels have rebounded after the circuit breaker period, which was from April 7 to June 1, they are not back to the levels they were at before. As Singapore's population ages, the proportion of those who remain single and live alone will increase, said Prof Straughan, a sociologist and former Nominated Member of Parliament. Coronavirus: Elderly hit hard by social isolation amid circuit breaker measures, Health News. A needle and the television set - these two objects have been keeping 83-year-old Nellie Woo company from morning to night for the past week while she is holed up alone at home.
She used to enjoy playing bingo and exercising with her elderly neighbours at the Senior Activity Centre (SAC) downstairs, as well as chatting with volunteers who visited her studio flat. Now that all activities for seniors - including home visits - have ceased due to strict circuit breaker measures, Madam Woo is feeling lonely and emotionally down. Social isolation and the elderly poor in Singapore. SINGAPORE: Her one-room flat was a cluttered mess, and Madam Helen Fernandez herself never seemed to bathe, said her neighbours who always saw her in the same set of clothes.
When case workers first visited the unkempt and confused elderly widow, they had to rush her to hospital for very high blood pressure – which resulted because she hadn’t been taking her medication and had been missing doctors’ appointments. Since her husband died 17 years ago, Mdm Fernandez had been living alone with no friends or family – and slowly falling prey to loneliness and dementia. There were times when she’d even call up the police just to talk. It was how her case got referred to the Social Service Office, and then to case worker Ahmala Rajoo in 2015. “She was receiving financial assistance, about S$500 a month,” said Ms Ahmala, a care executive with NTUC Health Cluster Support in Bukit Merah. But the neatly-groomed Mdm Fernandez you meet today almost doesn’t seem the same person. “Her memory has worsened. Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks.
Human beings are social creatures.
Our connection to others enables us to survive and thrive. Yet, as we age, many of us are alone more often than when we were younger, leaving us vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness—and related health problems such as cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease. Fortunately, there are ways to counteract these negative effects. Ways of Preventing Social Isolation Among Seniors. As seniors age, their lives can become more isolated.
Their families are no longer at home with them, and they may begin to isolate themselves from the outside world because it has become more difficult for them to get out. Social isolation among seniors can also impact their health. A study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that seniors have a 26 percent higher death risk than the elderly that remain social. TODAYonline. I thank Mr Sng Hock Lin for bringing awareness to the plight of aged, lonely hoarders, such as the case of the man found dead among piles of rubbish in his flat.
(“Hoarders need emotional support. Here's how we can help them”, Nov 11) It is worrying that the number of seniors living alone in Singapore is going up. The Department of Statistics estimates that 83,000 elderly persons will be living alone by 2030 as compared to the 47,000 seniors aged 65 and above in 2016. 14 Ways to Help Seniors Avoid Social Isolation - A vast body of evidence demonstrates the physical benefits of a healthy social life.
Conversely, loneliness and social isolation have been clearly linked to poor health outcomes. Numerous studies have shown that socially isolated seniors even have a shorter life expectancy. Helping The Elderly During This COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Season - Promises Healthcare. Dr Rajesh Jacob (Senior Consultant Psychiatrist @ Promises Healthcare) was interviewed by Tamil Murasu on 19th April about his views on ways we can help the elderly during this COVID 19 Circuit Breaker season.
Here’s an English translation of that interview: 1.What kind of mental issues that the elderly can experience during a pandemic like COVID 2019.