Fighting social isolation

Identifying ‘dire’ senior health issue critical, officials report

Meals, medicine, motivation and movement.

These are just some of a core group of everyday elements that can affect seniors, noted Joe Tomsick, CEO of Lake County Council on Aging.

More so, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, officials emphasized, additional noteworthy issues regarding “the most vulnerable population” often get overlooked, if not altogether missed, due in part to several factors, including privacy, societal stigma or individual reticence.

One of those prevalent issues is social isolation, identifying it and determining quality measures to combat it. While 2020 has introduced an entire reality of concerns independent of loneliness and isolation, organizations and caregivers continue to adapt in efforts to support and promote overall wellness.

“Because of COVID-19, the Lake County Council on Aging has had to think creatively and strategically to adapt our programs to safely meet the needs of our seniors,” Tomsick said. “And because

of efforts which were put in place early on, (the passage of the Senior Services Levy), we have been able to consistently serve an ever-increasing number of seniors in Lake County.”

A central group of Council on Aging staff remains at the Mentor office providing a lifeline of care, information and resources through the Aging and Disability Resource Center, Tomsick added. And the organization’s nutrition sites are continuing to work daily — organizing meal delivery, arranging drive-up services and sending volunteer drivers throughout the county.

In turn, Council on Aging social workers have also recently ramped up their abilities to provide professional assistance by returning to the field.

What is social isolation?

Defined as a lack of communal connectedness with another person, social isolation, additionally, can be a feeling of not belonging or feeling one has no purpose.

“Social isolation and loneliness are very real health concerns for this nation,” said Bernie Brooks, social work manager with LCCoA. “(American psychologist) Abraham Maslow in 1943 proposed a theory of Human Motivation in which he identified a fivetier hierarchy of needs. After physiological needs (air, food, water, shelter) and safety needs, love and belonging is the next level. This includes friendship, intimacy, family and a sense of connection.

“He believed that as humans, one needed to be successful at each lower level in order to reach self-actualization,” she added. “He believed that the need for interpersonal relationships motivated behavior. Being connected to another (person) is a human need and is believed to be crucial to one’s well-being and survival.”

According to the AARP Foundation, social isolation has reached epidemic proportions and affects a significant portion of the population. One can feel isolated at any point in one’s life depending upon one’s own circumstances.

Perhaps due to divorce, family dynamics, alcohol abuse, loss of a loved one or job, an individual can become isolated and become avoidant of family, friends or their community. Factors as such can lead to a sense of loneliness.

Loneliness is defined by a person’s level of satisfaction with their connectedness or perceived social isolation, and can have a negative im

pact on one’s emotional and physical health.

One can feel alone regardless of the amount of social contact. Thus, even those older adults in congregate settings can feel lonely even though there are people around them.

COVID-19 and isolation

“The concept and consequences of social isolation and loneliness have been studied significantly in the last few years, but the novel coronavirus has certainly heightened the awareness and has exacerbated dire health concerns for the older population,” Brooks said. “The health care system and social services in Lake County have been very aware of the need for seniors to feel a sense of connectedness and belonging.”

The Council on Aging is staffed with a team of licensed professional social workers who conduct home visits to identify seniors’ strengths and functional abilities to help them receive the services they need to maintain a self-defined quality of life.

Echoing Tomsick, Brooks noted the Lake County commissioners, through the senior levy, continue to support a network of senior centers to help seniors to remain active and engaged.

“The commissioners have also supported Western Reserve Community Development to install safety devices in homes to help seniors remain safe and independent,” she said. “The Lake County Volunteer Guardianship Program identifies volunteers to become surrogate decision makers when a senior no longer has the capacity to make rational decisions on their own.

“A dd it ion a l l y, L a ke County has a robust adult protective services team that will investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation to ensure their protection and coordinate services,” Brooks added.

A newer program called Motivate Lake County, administered through the Lake County G eneral Health District, is a countywide initiative that aims to promote health and wellness events and activities in the area, such as wellness challenges, classes, presentations and support groups.

Predominance and population

A 2017 study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that 17 percent of adults age 65 or older are isolated, with a 26 percent increased risk of early death. In addition, according to the data, 40 percent of women aged 75 or older live alone.

The study also found that social isolation among older adults was associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually.

“This is a result of the chronic health conditions that older adults are more likely to experience such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes,” Brooks said. “Loneliness and social isolation in the older population is likened to the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”

Social isolation is also associated with poor mental health functioning, according to National Academies, including the risk of depression, cognitive decline, anxiety, suicide and substance use. It has also been estimated that there is an increase by 50 percent for dementia.

“Unfortunately, those most at risk of increased social isolation and loneliness are also the people at the highest risk of developing more series illness from CO

VID-19,” Brooks said. “Older adults who live alone and either have no children or children who are geographically distant and are frail/ disabled remain at higher risk for loneliness and social isolation.”

A review of active cases at the Council on Aging from March 30 — beginning with the state stayat-home mandates and social distancing restrictions — to the present have revealed that almost 59 percent of these seniors live alone and that 71 percent are considered to be frail or disabled.

Fighting measures

“Lake County Council on Aging is unquietly positioned to help ensure that seniors involved with this agency remain connected and receive the services that they need, and sometimes the only support system that the older adult has is a staff person or volunteer,” Brooks said. “This has become more evident dur

ing the pandemic as it has become necessary for social workers to do some grocery shopping for these seniors, pick up medications and deliver fresh produce”

While COVID-19 has precluded Council on Aging volunteers, many of them older, from making friendly visits, they now have become “friendly callers,” calling to check up on seniors while providing a listening ear and helping them to stay connected.

Other volunteers have used their skills to make Halloween, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving cards to be delivered and/or sent with the home-delivered meals to communicate how they care and how they are important.

“In order to provide for basic needs, volunteers continue to deliver hot and frozen meals three days a week, providing not only a nutritious meal, but a friendly smile, a brief chat and a wellness check,” Brooks said. “They func

tion as the eyes and ears for the social workers who will follow up on any concerns.”

Brooks also noted the agenc y ’s homemakers, while providing cleaning service, serve as a human contact for the potentially isolated senior.

“As the pandemic continues, it is imperative that families, if available, social service agencies, the health care system, neighbors, volunteers, and faith-based communities work collaboratively to ensure that our older population feels connected and remains an integral part of our community,” she said. “Now more than ever, people need to reach out and make a connection.

“We are here to help you through this and encourage any senior in the county who needs some help to give us a call.”