Loneliness in old age is a big social problem.
It is a recognised fact that loneliness is unhealthy in all age groups, but it is the elderly, our parents, who often go unseen because of their reluctance to ask for help. Loneliness affects all ages but our elderly population are the most at risk.
One doesn’t have to dig too deep to uncover the reasons for elderly people feeling lonely. Friends pass away, some go to live in care homes, others go to live near or with children and grandchildren, but there is a huge proportion of our UK population that don’t have either the money for care homes or children to live with.
It is estimated that 2 million people over the age of 75 live alone in England (Age UK). This is a huge number of people without the ability regularly to talk to someone they know and importantly without the ability to give and receive a smile.
These elderly people are cut off from society; they don’t go out much and they might go for a month or two without speaking to a relative or neighbour. Loneliness is a terrible thing and being isolated can be difficult to deal with – imagine being lonely not from time to time, but ALL the time.
The impact of loneliness in old age
The negative impact of loneliness in old age for our ageing population has additional negative cost implications for social services and care agencies.
We now have a greater understanding of the impact loneliness has on our health.
Age UK states that “…the effect of loneliness and social isolation can be as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is more damaging than obesity. It is associated with depression, sleep problems, impaired cognitive health, heightened vascular resistance, hypertension, psychological stress and mental health problems.”
Getting in touch
We can all keep in touch with elderly relatives either by phone or writing letters (even emails) or by physically visiting. In today’s mobile world it is not always easy, particularly with sons, daughters and grandchildren living far and wide across the globe.
If someone is experiencing loneliness, making time for them lets them know someone cares. Someone to listen to them can be of great comfort.
Staying in touch
Enter Amba – a communication system and organisational device for families with relatives, often whom are elderly and have cognitive impairments, who live independently.
Whilst Amba uses the latest digital technology, it is not a computer in the traditional sense. You don’t have to know anything about computers to get along with Amba. Amba provides families with the ability to keep in touch with their relatives, who do not use modern technology.
The addition of Amba into the daily lives of our parents and grandparents means the negative effects of loneliness can be alleviated to a significant degree. Amba makes staying in touch, organising schedules, making video calls and sending photos, amongst other features, so easy, that once Amba is an accepted part of your family you may wonder how you ever did without it.
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- Age-related Memory Loss
- Loneliness in old age is a big social problem.
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To learn more about how the Amba system can help you and your family please fill in the form below and we will arrange a personal in home demonstration with confirmation by email and text message.