Introduction As the average life expectancy continues to rise, health care providers are challenged with providing both physical and emotional care for the elderly. Loneliness and isolation is becoming a growing concern for this population. The purpose of this article is to answer, what is an effective intervention to reduce loneliness and isolation in the elderly? Literature Review This study was conducted using Google Scholar, ProQuest and Michigan State Universities’ online library. Key phrases used in the search included but were not limited to: elderly isolation, social isolation in elderly as well as reduce isolation in elderly. As a result, this literature research found the following articles: Preventing social isolation and loneliness …show more content…
This project loaned 15 seniors a PC and peripheral equipment such as a printer for a total of three years and gave them five two-hour computer lessons and help from home visitors (Fokkema &Knipscheer, 2007). The study focused on the following research questions: Did the Esc@ape project reach the target population of lonely seniors and to what extent does modern computer technology contribute to alleviating feelings of loneliness (Fokkema & Knipscheer, 2007). This article is important because of the Esc@pe experiment’s longevity and looks at the use of computers as electronic communication tools which can be easily …show more content…
These findings are significant because it shows that technology is an effective intervention for reducing social isolation in the elderly. More importantly, the social work profession should take this into account when working with the geriatric population. For example, social workers could advocate for computer labs in subsidized senior housing facilities. Based on these findings, policies should also allocate funds for programs that increase computer access for the elderly population like in the example
Russell (1978), (http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jedp/article/download/46795/25238) established the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness scale, which has been widely employed to this day, and performed a theoretical factor analysis for loneliness. His research and results attracted broad attention around the world. Loneliness can be studied by three approaches: the cognitive process approach, the human needs approach and the behavioral approach. The cognitive process approach emphasizes an individual’s mental awareness and assesses his or her social
Nicolaisen, M., & Thorsen, K. (2012). Impairments, mastery, and loneliness. A prospective study of loneliness among older adults. Norsk Epidemiologi, 22(2), 143-150.
If someone told you that social isolation kills more people than obesity does, would you believe it (Olien)? Social isolation can go beyond the idea of someone locking themselves in their room and not interacting with anyone (physical isolation). It can also be when someone is not feeling connected to society or a certain person (emotional isolation). In fact, in the short story “To Room Nineteen” by Doris Lessing, the protagonist of the story, Susan, found herself needing frequent absences from her family which eventually drove her to commit suicide. People isolate themselves for many different reasons and this feeling of isolation can very much lead to death. Social isolation is a serious medical condition and there are many effects on the mind that can come along which can eventually lead to voluntary and/or involuntary death.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck looks at the theme of loneliness as it affects many characters on the ranch. Crooks, Curley's wife, and Candy are the most excluded characters on the ranch, because they all have dreams that they will not be able to live out and they all are at loss when it came to companionship. Crooks is lonely because he is the only black man on the ranch. Since this book is set during the Depression, Jim Crow laws are still in effect, whites and blacks had separate facilities for socializing and living. Crooks comments that he can't live in the bunkhouse, and cant even play cards in there.
Well known author Gretchen Rubin once said, “Keep in mind that to avoid loneliness, many people need both a social circle and an intimate attachment. Having just one of two may still leave you feeling lonely.” In the novel Of Mice And Men written during the Great Depression by author John Steinbeck loneliness is one of the main themes throughout the story. In this essay I will be writing about how loneliness affects three of the characters, George, Crooks, and Curley's unnamed wife.
Gerontology provides different perspectives of the aging process and the evidence base from which health and social care practice with the older population is founded. Older people are affected differently by the ageing process. The disengagement theory provides a greater insight into why some older people withdraw from the society. According to the disengagement theory perspective, successful ageing is best achieved through abandoning social roles and relationships and by the individual reducing both activities and involvement. Disengaging from social activities and involvement put the older person at risk of being socially excluded. Social exclusion affects older people, although the risk increases with
Social integration and participation of seniors in society are important indicators of healthy aging. However, seniors are always at risk of being socially isolated. Many factors can cause social isolation and among them population aging that resulted more seniors to live longer is one of the most important factors.
“Social” networks and loneliness are two very unlike things to be discussed simultaneously... The two are complete opposite of one another: “social” is associated to relating to one’s society, loneliness can be defined as “a complex and unpleasant emotional response to a feeling of isolation” (Ye and Lin 166). While loneliness can mean solitude, it also includes feelings of isolation and disconnection to other people (Ye and Lin 166). John Cacioppo is labeled as the world’s leading expert on loneliness. He proposed a thought provoking analogy: a car can be used to pick up friends, but one chooses to ride alone. Did the car make the person lonely? (Marche 68). Absolutely not. The car is simply a tool in the person’s everyday life. This relates
Loneliness is a terrifying feeling that never escapes our lives. When I was younger, my largest fear in life was that I would make no friends and would be lonely. As I grew older, the fear shifted to dying alone. Now that I take steps back to look at this I realized everything I have missed, everything I have misunderstood. I am finally strong enough to understand that loneliness is inescapable, it lives with you all through your life. Life is a lonely place, where even if you are lucky enough to have people around you, all you have to look forward to is losing them either through going separate ways or death.
Lutfala, A. (2011, October 28). Technology imposes social isolation. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from The Pudget Sound Trail website: http://trail.pugetsound.edu/2011/10/technology-imposes-social-isolation/
Name: University: Professor: Date: Topic: The intervention and alleviation of loneliness, depression, and/or isolation in adulthood. Introduction Depression is a psychological disorder, which affects many people in their lifetime right from childhood to adulthood where the preference level rises. Research shows that 5 to 25% of the populations are depressed in their lifetime and 17% of those suffering from major depression commit suicide (Joormann & Quinn, 2014).
Today we live in a society that has been engulfed in technology and the question is, does technology make us lonely? Personally I don't think, I now we can communicate with one another faster than ever whether it's by text message, email and through the many social networking sites that we have today we can reach out to each other in so many ways. There has always been a debate on how this technology affects us, and some would argue that it's ruining us as we speak, while others would say it's a step in the right direction. Such devices and applications as smartphones, tablets, e-mail, texting, Facebook and Skype are bringing families together, offering an easy avenue to communicate when you’re loved ones are far away and or when they are as close as the next room. People have the ability to interact with others around the globe with just the click of a button.
The process of aging introduces many changes and challenges to one’s life. The elderly experience the ill effects of different mental stresses, financial crises, physical problems and multiple losses which can often be followed by depression and suicide ideation (Bailey, Patel, Avenido, Patel, & Jaleel, 2011). A very common problem many aging people experience is social isolation. Social isolation, being separated of disconnected from other people in society is particularly common for many elderly people, especially those living alone who have very limited interaction with others or have a lack of close family ties (Casiano, Katz, Globerman, & Sareen, 2013). With aging many people also lose connections with friends, especially when friends
Some may argue that technology helps us not feel lonely because technology is the way to escape reality for a bit and the internet can reconnect with our friends and family from around the world. We can save time by “shopping” online and communicate quickly by “email than postal mail” (Franzen 428). We can also communicate via webcam, especially for college students away from their family. It’s a way to reconnect with our love ones and stay in contact with our friends. We want to be “able to share our lives with others” and technology “allows us to do that with music, videos, pictures, and texts” (Arnett 477-479).
While being social has many benefits to the health of a person, it can have a negative effect if there is any financial stress, increased burdens, or ailing family member or partner (Annear et al., 2012). Caring for others as an elderly person can have both negative and positive effects while providing companionship and a sense of purpose, it can also make the elderly carers life more stressful and can sometimes make the carer feel emotionally isolated (Annear et al., 2012). Joining social groups will get encourage participation and interaction with other members of their social group; this will help in minimising the potential for social isolation and detachment. Barriers to having an active social health are living in rural or remote areas, long distances to services and social networks. It is important for elderly people to feel they still have some form of connection with their friends and family and feel that are still connect to