Loneliness is a serious problem in the UK, especially among the elderly, and many people struggle with it on a daily basis. It can be caused by many things, but the most common reasons elderly people are lonely is because their friends and spouse have passed away and their families have moved away. Isolation can happen really quickly and is made worse for people who also suffer from health problems that make getting out and about difficult.
The Effects Of Loneliness
Loneliness can cause health issues and is thought to be a bigger risk to a person’s health than being obese. According to Age UK, loneliness is as unhealthy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. People who are lonely are also more susceptible to serious health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease and dementia is also a big risk factor in a person who is lonely.
Residential Care Isn’t The Answer To Loneliness
It might seem on the surface that being in a residential care home with lots of other people will ease loneliness, however, several studies suggest this really isn’t the case. In order to move into residential care a person has to leave behind their friends, family and everything that is familiar to them, increasing their feeling of isolation. Being in residential care often causes people to feel a lack of control over their lives, and so they feel even lonelier in their surroundings.
Why Care Homes Aren’t Always The Social Option
Not all of these will be entirely happy and content. Some undoubtedly enjoy the routines and certainty that care home residency provides but many do not. It is possible to be surrounded by people and yet still suffer from loneliness. In particular, those who do not easily mix and find it difficult to form new friendships will experience social isolation.
An American study from the National Library of Medicine looked at how loneliness and social isolation affected people in long term care residency. It found that an estimated 22% to 42% of care home residents reported feelings of loneliness compared to 10% of the general population.
Another study reported that over half of nursing home residents – those without cognitive impairment – experienced loneliness. This situation will undoubtedly be replicated in care homes across the world. It is thought that this is down to, amongst other things, a lack of meaningful personal relationships and the institutionalisation and regimentation of care homes. In the UK the shortage of care home workers must also have an effect as overworked carers simply do not have enough time to spend with residents.
What Restricts People from Visiting Someone in a Care Home?
Care home residents have legal rights under the Social Care Act 2008 to see their family and friends. This applies whether the resident is self-funded or state-funded. And while residents in NHS or local authority funded care homes have visitation rights enshrined under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights visitors can still sometimes be banned. This was prevalent during the pandemic.
Residential care homes in the UK have reported frequent outbreaks of infections such as Norovirus which can be so severe that all visitation has to be banned until the infection clears up. Since the start of 2024 incidences of the extremely contagious Norovirus have increased across the UK by 66%.
Care home visitors can be stopped from visiting for a number of reasons. Sometimes the ‘guilt factor’, where families feel guilty about putting a loved one into a home, can lead to angry feelings and emotions transferring to care home staff, who can stop families from visiting. Sometimes they feel so guilty they simply stop visiting.
It is not always possible for someone to be placed into a care home of their choice. If the home is a long way from their family, then regular visiting may be too difficult or too expensive. Public transport is often too unreliable.
It’s clear that the best way to combat loneliness and ensure a happier way of life is through live-in care at home rather than the anonymity of a care home.
The Benefits Of Live-in Care
Live-in care and homecare services have been increasing in popularity in recent years offering a really good alternative to residential care homes. Just some of the benefits include:
- The person being able to stay with their pet
- The person being able to remain in familiar surroundings
- The ability to stay close to friends and neighbours
- The ability to continue to attend local clubs and groups
- Choice about food and drink consumed
These are just some of the many benefits of live-in care and homecare services, but one of the main benefits is actually how live in care combats loneliness. First and foremost a person can stay in their own home amongst a community they have probably known for many years so they feel a sense of belonging. Of course, because in-home care has a focus on companionship as well as care this contributes to avoiding loneliness. When a person finds the right carer who shares a similar interests and a sense of humour, and who provides companionship, they have somebody with them most of the time that they enjoy being around.
Part of a live-in carers job will also be to enable their client to attend local social groups and to get out and about, something a lot of residents in care homes don’t often get to do.
Loneliness doesn’t have to be part of getting older, and live-in care is a great later life care option that can help combat loneliness.
6 Comments. Leave new
It is so important for people to stay in their own homes. My mother had Alzheimer’s and it was our wish that she stay in familiar surroundings. It made her life so much easier, knowing where to go to find the toilet etc. When she went into hospital for a short stay, she ended up in the next room down the corridor because that was where her bathroom was at home. The gentleman in the next room was delighted with the company!!
Without doubt people are different, that said most people want to stay at home and what better way to combat loneliness. Live-In care enables life long relationships to be formed, these positively impact on both health and Wellbeing
I can see that a good live-in carer could help, especially if you are one of those people like my grandmother, who was lonely in crowds, as she was shy. Good job she never got shoved into a care home!
My mother would completely withdraw if she was to go into a care home as since the death of my father she does not want to interact with groups of new people. She has never been an overly confident person even when she was in the company of my father so one to one interaction within her own home is perfect for her.
I’ve seen some shocking scenes in care homes where residents/inmates are just sitting in chairs lining the walls staring into space looking very lonely and dejected.
It’s obvious that someone in their own home, near friends and family and with a constant companion to keep them engaged is the better alternative.
An important aspect of carers who come to the home regulalry or live in is that they provide companionship and this helps combat loneliness among elderly people, which is a common problem especially amongst those with limited mobility.