WAYS TO WARD OFF LONELINESS BY STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Nearly a quarter of the world feels lonely. According to a recent Meta-gallup survey of more than 140 countries, 24 per cent of people aged 15 and older reported feeling very or fairly lonely. And 27 per cent of respondents admitted to feeling a little lonely.
While everyone has felt lonely at some point, a sense of connection is essential to mental and physical health. Loneliness and social isolation affect quality of life and have been linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke and cognitive decline including dementia. Several bodies of research reveal the effects of loneliness on mortality are similar to obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and high blood pressure.
Additionally, a 2019 study of polar explorers at a research station in the Antarctic found that social isolation shrank their brains, particularly in the hippocampus region, which is involved in memory, learning and emotional regulation.
Yet loneliness is not the same as being alone. It's possible to be socially isolated and not lonely. That's because loneliness is a state of mind, explains Dr. Jacqueline Mcmillan, a geriatrician and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary's Cummings School of Medicine.
“Loneliness is a subjective perception of missing social contacts or desired companions,” she says.
So you feel lonely, now what? Recognizing you're lonely is an essential first step. It can signal that now is the time to strengthen social connections and take steps to improve your happiness.
Some individuals have enough motivation to seek out fulfilling activities and interactions when loneliness starts, but that's not the case for everyone. The degree of loneliness and inertia an individual has directly affects one's ability to overcome it, acknowledges Mcmillan.
“If you don't have the motivation to do something, I would speak to your family physician and health care team as they might have creative ideas. There may be things you're not aware of that are a fit for what you need,” she shares.
Examples of this include local YMCA and City of Calgary recreation programs, plus fair access programs if there are financial barriers.
While the loneliness epidemic has seen significant growth in younger generations, consistently, a large portion of older Canadians report feeling lonely. It was revealed in the National Institute on Aging's December 2023 report, Understanding the Factors Driving the Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Canadians, that 58 per cent of Canadians 50 and older have experienced loneliness.
To assist with the wellness of older adults, Unison, for Generations 50+ at Calgary's Kerby Centre offers several programs to reduce isolation and loneliness. Unison's president & CEO Larry Mathieson explains how it can be challenging as we grow older and lose friends and loved ones to continue to be active and seek joy.
“The idea of jumping in your car and going to see the snow sculptures in Lake Louise just isn't on your radar anymore. You're not thinking I need to get out and make more friends, but we are social animals. We need to make friends all our lives, and these programs become platforms where people make lifelong friendships,” he says.
Becoming part of a community is vital. Recently, Unison designed a community kitchen program that targeted seniors who didn't have a strong social network or financial situation. The participants met weekly and learned how to make healthy meals they could take home. After a few weeks, they asked participants to double the number of meals to aid someone with mobility issues.
When staff overhead the participants talking to others, they described themselves as Kerby volunteers — there to make meals to help others. Though the program was initially designed to address the issue of food scarcity, it also created a sense of purpose and connection for participants.
“We have the mindset that the volunteer experience is an intervention against loneliness. If you're suffering from loneliness, you don't have to join the yoga class. Instead, you could volunteer at our free food market,” recommends Mathieson.
Volunteering is a selfless act mutually beneficial for all parties involved, but having meaningful contact with others can happen in various ways.
Looking through old photos can jog happy memories and provide the impetus to reconnect with those who were once an important part of your life. Seeing each other in person is best (followed by phone and video chats), yet gatherings don't need to be elaborate. Frequency, in this case, is more important than duration. Even running errands with a neighbour can uplift spirits.
Aim to connect with as many people as possible each day.
As loneliness is becoming more prevalent in our society, more professionals are aware of its dire consequences and are developing programs to address it.
“People are aware it's a problem, so do reach out to people around you. You don't have to feel like you need to deal with it forever or that it can't be addressed or mitigated,” says Mcmillan.