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UK Seniors Go a Whole Week Without Talking to Anyone

Date: September 28, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
UK Seniors Go a Whole Week Without Talking to Anyone

Loneliness is a major problem for seniors. They slow down, and their social circles slowly diminish until they spend all their time alone. A new survey of UK seniors reveals that they usually go a week without talking to someone.

UK Seniors Go a Whole Week Without Talking to Anyone

UK Seniors Go a Whole Week Without Talking to Anyone

 

The survey of 1,896 seniors showed that twenty-two percent would have a conversation with three or fewer people each week. Why is this a big deal?

This means that 2.6 million seniors don’t have daily human contact and 225,000 don’t talk to people at all.

The survey also showed that thirty-eight percent of seniors feel lonely as they’ve gotten older. The loneliness has gotten so bad for some that twelve percent said loneliness kept them from leaving their home.

Forty percent of seniors would feel more confident in leaving the house if they knew their neighbors. Fifty-four percent of seniors said that even a short conversation with a neighbor or acquaintance would brighten their day.

Read more about how loneliness can affect your health in our article, Loneliness Can Be Deadly for Elders; Friends Are the Antidote.

Read more about the UK survey here.

7 Different Kinds of Loneliness

Date: March 24, 2019
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Different Ways to Stimulate a Senior's Appetite

Loneliness seems to be one of the modern world’s biggest problems, and we don’t talk about it. People young and old are growing more and more lonely, despite all the technology that can connect us. To be happy, you need to have strong, healthy, loving relationships. Did you know there are 7 different kinds of loneliness?

7 Different Kinds of Loneliness

7 Different Kinds of Loneliness

 

Do any of these types of loneliness sound familiar to you?

1. New Situation Loneliness

This is when you are in a new environment and don’t know anyone. For example, if you moved to a new community and have left your home behind. Plus, you have to start over when it comes to making friends.

2. I’m Different Loneliness

You may be in an environment that you know well, but still feel uncomfortable. You feel different because you share different values, hobbies, likes or dislikes, or more. It can make it hard to connect with people about the things you find important.

3. No Romantic Partner Loneliness

You can have a lot of friends and family, but still be lonely due to not having a romantic partner. You could also have a partner and not feel a deep connection to them.

Having a partner gives you a different kind of connection than from other platonic loved ones.

4. No Pet Loneliness

Pets are an amazing source of unconditional love. If you are used to having a pet and don’t have one at the moment, it can leave a big hole in your heart. This type of relationship can give you love that human ones can’t

5. No Time For Me Loneliness

This is when your friends are too busy to make time to hang out with you. It can happen pretty easily as you get older. It can be hard not to be upset by their lack of companionship, while still understanding that they are busy.

6. Untrustworthy Friends Loneliness

Sometimes there are situations where you start to wonder if your friends have your best intentions at heart. The ability to confide and trust is essential to friendship. Not having this is an easy way to feel lonely.

7. Lack of Quiet Presence Loneliness

There is something about sharing a space with someone without saying a word. You can have an active social life, but relaxing with someone is something special. Not having this can make a home feel lonely.

Read more here.

7 Ways to Find Love Later in Life

Date: October 15, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
You Need to Laugh More, for Your Health

Loneliness sneaks up on people who are in the later parts of their lives. It makes sense. Friends may have passed away or moved to be closer to their families. It’s easy to feel alone. Here are 7 ways to find love later in life, and maybe you can feel a little less lonely.

7 Ways to Find Love Later in Life

7 Ways to Find Love Later in Life

 

Loneliness can damage your health in surprising ways. It can be hard to start over finding friends after not needing to for so long. Try these 7 tips to make it easier.

1. Change Your Mindset

Without realizing it, we become set in our ways. These old ways can get in your way when trying to make new connections.

Hopefully, because you are older, you are more confident in yourself. You have no shame about the things you like. By following those likes, you may find new friends.

2. Realize No One is Perfect

You may have accepted your flaws, but what about others? It’s easy to have subconscious expectations of what you are looking in another person.

These standards may make finding new love especially hard.

You don’t want people to expect you to be perfect, right?

3. Don’t Let Others Define You

When you were younger, it was easy to let other people sway you. Whether that was what you wore, what you liked, and even who you talked to. It’s a hard part of growing up.

As mentioned before, hopefully, you are more confident now that you are older.

When trying to find new love, whether romantic or friendship, remember to stay true to yourself.

4. Embrace Faults

Faults don’t always equal a bad thing. Instead, they could just be an odd quirk. Other people’s quirks can make your life a lot more interesting than if they were perfect.

5. Love Differences

There is nothing wrong with people being different from you. People who have different opinions may infuriate you sometimes, but you never know, they may teach you something.

6. See Your Goals

Staying positive will help you find a community. If you can picture making a new friend or new romance, then it’s more likely it will happen.

Send good vibes out into the world.

7. Stay Open

You never know what is going to happen. If you have a closed mind, then you narrow your chances at new opportunities.

Read more here.