Month: June 2022

Research shows older Australians are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness than any other demographic. Those over 75 experience loneliness more than any other age group.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians over 65 are increasingly likely to live alone, and living alone is one of the common causes of social isolation in seniors.

We explore some of the risk factors of social isolation in the elderly, the health effects of loneliness, and how to help your older loved ones stay connected.

 

Risk Factors

Older adults have a higher risk of loneliness and social isolation due to several factors such as:

• Living alone
• Being divorced, separated, or widowed
• Chronic illness
• Mobility issues
• Loss of family or friends
• Not living near loved ones
• Transportation challenges.

These are just some of the possible causes of social isolation in the elderly. If someone you love is experiencing any of these, there’s a chance they could be experiencing loneliness too.

Learn the signs of loneliness in seniors in this blog post.

 

Health Effects of Social Isolation

All humans – whether extroverted or introverted – are inherently social beings who need human connection and a sense of belonging. When these needs aren’t met, our physical and mental health can suffer.

Research tells us loneliness is just as bad for us as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. It’s a major risk factor for physical and mental health conditions such as:

• Depression and anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Cognitive decline
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Stroke
• Poor sleep quality
• Weakened immune system.

Studies even show that social isolation is a significant contributor to early death.

 

Helping our Seniors Stay Connected

Seniors may need some help from their support networks to stay socially active. Here are three ways you can support your older loved one to stay connected and avoid social isolation:

• Stay in regular contact – Make an effort to call and visit your older loved one regularly. You might even like to organise a roster with other family and friends to ensure someone is checking in each day. This can be particularly important if your older loved one has health issues.
• Get them out of the house – Getting out and about gives them the chance to engage with the locals in their neighbourhood. Maybe they’ll become a regular at their local café and feel special when the barista calls them by name.
• Encourage social hobbies – Group activities such as tennis, bingo, water aerobics, and walking groups are all great ways to meet new people who share the same interests. Being part of a group can bring a special sense of belonging.

Find more ways to help lonely seniors here.

 

If your older loved one needs someone to talk to, our counsellors are here to listen. You can learn more about our counselling services here or call 1300 364 277 to make an appointment.

For specialised senior relationship services, discover our Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Service, Senior Financial Protection Service, Elder Mediation Support Service, and Senior Social Connection Program.

Whether it’s booking an Uber, emailing a friend, or paying bills online, technology can make our lives a whole lot easier.

But some of our older loved ones are still struggling to keep up with the digital world.

Studies show the number of older Australians who owned a smartphone increased in 2021. The COVID era was a catalyst for seniors to get online with the introduction of QR codes to check into venues, and lockdowns forcing us to stay connected via technology.

But while more seniors are going digital, their confidence with technology isn’t necessarily increasing.

“The views seniors expressed in the 2021 survey clearly highlight the important fact that using technology does not imply comfort with it.”

– Professor John McCallum, National Seniors Chief Executive and Director of Research

We offer tips to help older loved ones feel confident online and make the most of digital services that may enrich their lives.

 

Keep it simple

Even the most tech-savvy person can quickly become overwhelmed by all the latest gadgets and apps out there.

Reduce the risk of overwhelm and intimidation by sticking to the basics and keeping it simple.

Some basic tech skills might include:

• How to send a text message
• How to take and send a photo
• How to change settings on their mobile (e.g. volume and text size)
• Basic internet browsing
• How to create and save a document
• Basic email (signing in, receiving, replying).

 

Tailor to their interests

If your older loved one has particular interests or needs, be sure to keep these in mind when teaching them technology.

There might be specific apps or platforms that could make their life easier or more enjoyable.

For example, if they don’t drive or have mobility issues, they might like to learn how to pay bills online and order their groceries to be delivered.

If they want to stay in touch with family overseas, they might like to create a Facebook account and learn how to use Messenger.

 

Emphasise the benefits

It’s normal to become frustrated when learning something new. If they’re not “getting it” right away, your older loved one might become defeated and resistant.

Remind them of why it’s important to learn these things and how it can make their lives better.

Benefits might include:

• Social connection
• Safety
• Convenience
• Entertainment.

 

Be patient

It can take a lot of time to learn new digital skills – especially for people who didn’t grow up with smartphones, laptops, social media, and Google.

Be patient and kind with your loved one as they learn. It’s a brave (and likely uncomfortable) step for them to take, and they’re trusting you to support them on this journey.

 

Encourage them to take notes

Writing things down with pen and paper in a way that makes sense to them may help your loved one retain information.

Plus, it’s handy to have notes and instructions to refer to later.

Speak slowly and help them write down any important steps and processes correctly.

 

Don’t forget about cyber security

Unfortunately, seniors can be more vulnerable to online scams.

You can help protect their safety by teaching them about cyber security.

Some important tips include:

• Ensure devices are password-protected
• Don’t share your passwords with anyone
• Watch out for phishing scams and only open emails and links from people you trust
• Don’t share your personal information or bank details with a website you don’t trust
• Never believe that someone you don’t know is going to give you money
• If you never entered a lottery, you did not win the lottery
• Have good anti-virus and firewall software in place
• Reach out for help when needed.

Senior support services

RAQ offers support to older people in Queensland through a range of free services aimed at providing education, advice, and referrals.

This includes our free Senior Social Connection Program, helping older people in the Northern Sunshine Coast and Gympie region connect with local services, meet likeminded peers, and improve their community connections. 

You can learn more about our range of Senior Relationship Services here, or call 1300 364 277 for help finding the right support.

 

We list some of the signs of loneliness in the elderly in this blog post and how you can help in this blog post.

Are you worried about the older people in your life? 
 
Maybe you haven’t seen them in a while, or when you do see them, they seem anxious, withdrawn or flat. 

It can be hard to see someone you care about struggling, but even harder to know how to bring it up in a way that’s helpful to them.  

But with recent studies showing as many as one in six older Australians experience elder abuse, it’s more important than ever to check in with the older people in your life if you suspect something is wrong.  

Here are some tips for how to start the conversation. 
  

Choose the time and place 

Opening up about painful topics like abuse or neglect can be difficult. It’s important to make sure that the person you’re talking to feels safe and ready to openly share their feelings, especially if the topic is sensitive. 

Try only bringing this topic up in a comfortable, private environment, where they don’t have to worry about being overheard by others. Avoid areas where there are competing noises like a radio or a TV so you can focus on the conversation. 

Let them know you’re worried about them 

Reaching out to a loved one can help them feel less alone, but finding the right words to start the conversation can be hard. You might be worried about offending them or putting them on the spot. 

The easiest way to bring up this sensitive topic is to be gentle but direct.  Let them know that you care about them and have noticed they’ve been different lately. Give some examples if you can think of any. 

Some things you could say are: 

• “Hey, I noticed you have seemed a bit down lately, and I’m worried about you.”
• “I haven’t seen you in a while. Are things going okay?”

They may not be ready to talk about it yet, so don’t push them into the conversation if they seem uncomfortable. Let them know you’re always happy to listen and leave it there. 

Listen, don’t criticise 

If an older person is opening up to you about abuse or neglect they’ve experienced, the last thing they need is to feel like you are judging them for their feelings.  

Often, people struggling with abuse might feel ashamed or guilty about how they are treated and think they ‘deserved’ it. They might be shocked or upset that a person they trust has done this to them. 

Listen and thank them for opening up to you. Focus on encouraging them and giving them space to lead the conversation. You can use phrases like “That sounds really hard. Do you want to talk about it more?”  
  

Offer practical support 

If the older person you’re talking to is feeling overwhelmed, even a simple offer of practical support can take something off their plate. Some things you could offer to do for them are: 

• Help them make or travel to appointments
• Pick up medication for them
• Work on a safety plan together.

Help them reach out to organisations that can support them 

Sometimes, your loved one might need more support than you can give them. Luckily, there are lots of organisations they can reach out to. You can even do some research together. Some places to start looking into are: 

• The Queensland Government’s list of senior services 
• Legal support for seniors
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Elder Abuse Prevention Unit: 1300 651 192
• My Aged Care.

Compass also has a useful list of elder abuse support services available across Australia. 

Keep in touch 

One of the easiest ways to help protect someone you love from elder abuse is to stay socially connected with them. If you have regular plans, it gives them a space to talk safely about their concerns with someone they trust. 

  
This conversation can be hard to have, but well worth it to let the person you’re worried about know they’re not alone. Learning the signs of elder abuse can help you better spot changes in your loved one’s behaviour worth asking them about. 

For more information, you can check out our Understanding Elder Abuse page, or give our counsellors a call on 1300 062 323.