Keep an eye out for the elderly this holiday season

Keep an eye out for the elderly this holiday season

12 December 2014

For many of us the holiday season is often spent relaxing with family and friends, but it’s also a time to look out for the elderly in our communities who are socially isolated.

There are many reasons why the elderly may end up socially isolated, including poor health, loss of a spouse, transportation issues, smaller social networks, and lack of money. This can lead to a higher chance of depression, eating issues, illness and at the worst end of the scale, a lonely death.

Making this issue worse is the fact that because these individuals are socially isolated, it can be very hard to identify them, as they often don’t have someone looking out for them.

So what can you do to help with this situation? MidCentral DHB Clinical Advisor Health of Older People, Liz Elliott has a few tips for those in the community who suspect their elderly neighbours may suffer from isolation.

She said: “Often it’s the little things that help to prevent these lonely deaths in our communities. Over Christmas and New Year, the loneliness may be especially pronounced as they have no one to share in what is usually a very social occasion.

“Making the effort to have a chat to the older person, on the phone, or over a cup of tea is a really good way to help the older person feel less isolated. At Christmas you may even consider taking over a gift, or a piece of Christmas cake. If you’re really keen to help out, there are plenty of community organisations that have volunteer visiting programmes for the frail and isolated.”

Social isolation for older people doesn’t have to be a permanent thing. By taking the time to have a talk, helping out with chores around the house, or offering to drive them to a church or other community venue, we can make a world of difference for those who would normally spend time alone.

If you have concerns that an older person in your community is socially isolated, or you would like to volunteer to be a visitor, a good place to start is at Age Concern. Age Concern Manawatu can be contacted on (06) 355 2832 and the Horowhenua branch can be contacted on (06) 367 2181.

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