Overcome loneliness, live happier in old age
People who socialize in old age feel better. Tips from eldercare expert Jürgen Griesbeck.
Mr. Griesbeck, according to a publication by the Technical University of Munich and the Helmholz Centre, many older people feel a high level of satisfaction with life.
Jürgen Griesbeck: That is indeed a pleasing result. It shows that enjoyment of life and quality of life do not necessarily decline with age, as is often assumed. In the underlying survey of 3,600 people with an average age of 73, the vast majority surprisingly expressed a very high level of subjective well-being.
It is particularly interesting how little influence physical health has on life satisfaction. I also observe this in my work: many people develop a maturity in old age that enables them not to be put in a deficient mood by the usual limitations of old age. On the contrary, they make the best of the opportunities available to them and stop chasing after an ideal physical state. In this sense, the researchers also confirm that even so-called multimorbidity - i.e. when several illnesses exist at the same time - has little effect on well-being.
"Loneliness has a particularly bad effect."
The study shows that psychosocial factors have a greater impact on satisfaction than poor physical condition.
That is true. Things like anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorders or a low income have a significant impact on well-being. Above all, loneliness has a negative impact. This is because we humans need a meaningful anchor for our existential satisfaction, something that we can take care of. Be it another person, an animal or a task such as decorating flowers in church. We need to be able to occupy ourselves with something that has to do with more than just our own limitations and illnesses. As Heidegger also writes, it is concern that makes people human. It is astonishing that this can now also be proven empirically! Even if you accompany another person in your thoughts and worry about their well-being, this has a relieving and beneficial effect on yourself. Conversely, it is not only important for older people to be seen by others and for others to care about how they are doing. However, this should not tempt us to act lovingly just to make ourselves feel better. That would pervert the idea of love.
"There are lots of offers for older people."
What can older people do to combat loneliness?
Fortunately, there are now many offers for older people. But it depends on your inner willingness to make use of them and, for example, to visit a senior citizens' club even if the "title" initially puts you off and you can't identify with the target group. I often hear the objection: "There are only old people there". This unwillingness to engage with others is often the reason for loneliness. At the end of the day, it is a lifelong question for us humans to keep our own hearts open and not to wall ourselves up in prejudices, judgments and fears. This applies not only to my closest relatives, but also to other people. In the seventh report on the elderly, the major topic is the "caring community". Everyone is warmly invited to care for others and to open themselves up to other people caring for them.
What is new since the last care reform is that long-term care insurance also provides money for social participation.
People in need of care are entitled to up to 125 euros a month for help in the home if they are cared for in their own four walls. This could be someone from a care service, for example, who comes once a week to clean the home or go shopping. But a visit to the doctor together, conversations, games or a walk are also included. However, many people do not know that the care insurance fund pays for these services without any loss of care allowance. This is why the respite services are often not used in the first place. And then the contribution simply expires.
For the publication, the researchers from the Helmholz Center and the Technical University of Munich drew on data from around 3,600 test subjects with an average age of 73. They were asked about their well-being as part of the Augsburg population study KORA-Age.
Source: idw online
Loneliness in old age - the focus of politics
A new federal program aims to protect older employees in particular from social isolation. Various pilot projects have been receiving financial support since October 2020. The program is primarily aimed at older employees (over 60 years of age) who are at risk of or affected by exclusion from the labour market and thus also social isolation. The aim is to prevent social isolation and strengthen financial security in old age.
Older, socially isolated people are to receive professional support directly on site. The services on offer include digital training as well as neighbourhood help and the identification of prospects when transitioning from working life to retirement.
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