Carol MarakHow Aging with Friends Fills the Void of Being Alone
The concept of growing older without household support can be a shocking wake up call. That’s what happened to me after providing home care help for my older parents. The needs they had were extremely challenging for my sister and I, and when they died, it forced me to question, who will do all that for me? You see, I’m single, and have no children. How Aging with Friends Fills the Void of Being Alone The care I provided for mom and dad included daily living tasks like house cleaning, cooking, shopping, transportation to medical appointments and treatments, and even
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Kendall VanBlarcomHow to Live in Our Changing World
We all know that change is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it is easy for us to understand or embrace a changing world. It can be scary and upsetting. Some individuals find themselves not wanting to go outside. Others may discover they have different views than someone close to them, a situation that can lead to disruptions in friend and family ties. If you are having a difficult time coping with fast changes in the world, discussing your concerns with a personal coach can help. With support, people can adapt to new circumstances. Acceptance and Communication Everyone has an encountered
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Guest BloggerFinding Joy in Difficult Times
In times of trouble, it can be tremendously difficult to see the forest through that thick stand of trees – giant leafy Southern Oaks if you’re “down South” like us. Mix in a pandemic with the natural bumpy road called Life, and those happy feelings can get lost in the exhaust –and exhaustion. But maybe it’s not “happy” toward which we should set our GPS. There’s a wonderful little quote floating around: Joy is a choice purposefully made -and that’s a different thing than being happy. Happy. Happy depends upon external factors. It most often happens to us, whereas joy is a
Continue readingAddressing Issue of Lonely Seniors
We live in a time when we can communicate with friends and family via just a few taps on a smartphone screen. However, despite the increased connectivity that technology brings, research indicates that as a society, we are lonelier than ever before. Recent research has shown that there are more than 11 million seniors (aged 65 and above) living alone without support. And probably, no other generation or age group feels the acute pain of loneliness more than the elderly. Why are seniors so lonely? Age brings many difficult changes that contribute to a lonelier life. One of the biggest problems
Continue readingFeeling Alone During the Holidays
Since 51 percent of people over 75 live alone, the holidays are a lonely time for many people. AARP says that number adds up to 15 million people in the U.S., including 27 percent over 65. And of these, 26 percent face an increased risk of death due to the subjective feeling of loneliness. Feeling Alone During the Holidays Loneliness is common during the holidays for a variety of ages due to living away from family and those who feel it the most are empty nesters, the elderly and individuals who are grieving - the loss of a loved one. The
Continue readingDealing with Loneliness
Seniors face many challenges, they have financial constraints, difficulty finding work, have problems driving and getting around, deal with chronic illnesses, and if those weren't enough, so many older adults suffer from loneliness. For the issue of being alone and lonely--do we have more control of feeling isolated than we want to admit? In the elder orphan Facebook group, I hear some members say they are very lonely -- while others admit to being alone but rarely lonely. Dealing with Loneliness Even for me, where I live (in a highrise surrounded by close neighbors,) I experience few residents who never make
Continue readingWhat to do if Depression Returns
If you have lived through depression, it is normal to worry about symptoms returning. When you are wondering what to do if your depression comes back, know that there is help available. When Do Symptoms Return? Depression, anxiety, worrying and fear are experienced differently by different people. For some people, they can go through a difficult period and then recover. For others, there are relapses, periods where they feel fine—good, even—and then periods where symptoms return. There are times in life that are sad or upsetting. We all have days when we feel down and it is important to recognize
Continue readingThis Is Why Aging Alone Is Harder And How We Adapt
The lifestyle and concept of aging alone is not new, but in the U.S. more people experience aging at home without the support of family nearby (2010 Census.) In the rural area where I grew up, the older generations never worried about being left alone without help. Families saw to it that older members had a place to live, food on the table, received help with daily living, and a bed. Our elders shared in social activities and never felt left out. Even the local township and churches actively participated in caring for elders when they were alone. It gave
Continue readingWhy Seniors Isolate
There's a growing concern that seniors in retirement are not actively involved and it puts them at risk for chronic conditions. Social isolation and loneliness among older adults are linked to depressive symptoms, poor cognitive functioning, disrupted sleep, lack of physical activity, and impaired mental health-all of which have implications for increased mortality. Other risks include a weakened immune system, increased use of emergency services, early admittance to a nursing home, and frequent falls. In 2018, an academic researcher asked 550 seniors in a Facebook group who frequently discuss feeling isolated, "What are your reasons for being socially inactive? Is
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