If you consider the causes, you may sometimes determine if your parents or grandparents are lonely—especially if they have just lost a friend or family member. However, sometimes the changes are modest and difficult to detect. Here are several indicators of loneliness among the elderly that you should be aware of:
- Nights with no sleep
According to a study, loneliness link to sleep efficiency: the more lonely a person is, the more fragmented their sleep becomes. Attempt to converse with your parents or grandparents more if they complain about not getting enough sleep or being more tired than usual. They may be lonely.
- Buying patterns have changed.
Loneliness has to get linked to increased shopping habits, according to a study. That lonely persons look for activities to fill their time and distract themselves from their loneliness by purchasing to compensate for their lack of social relationships. Speak out if you find your parents or grandparents buying more than usual—they may not say it out loud, but they may be lonely.
- Appetite deficiency
If a senior is lonely, they may lose their appetite. Although a change in hunger may get expected as part of the aging process, it’s worth noting when it gets accompanied by other indicators of loneliness.
- Seniors get reminded of family or friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
It could be elders simply missing their friends or relatives, but it could also be a sign of loneliness. It’s also worth noting how many elders mention their friends or families. “I miss them,” “How are they doing,” and “they never visit anymore” are key phrases to pay attention to it.
- The number of phone calls has decreased.
Loneliness gets linked to phone usage, according to Hadar Swersky, Co-founder and chairman of the Age group. As a means of forming new connections and coping with loneliness, seniors may need to seek out and chat with someone more frequently. A drop in the number of phone calls, on the other hand, may indicate loneliness. When lonely seniors have changed their expectations for assistance and are no longer looking for new contacts, they have reached this stage. Pay attention to your loved ones’ phone behaviors since any changes could indicate loneliness.
- Time spent at home has increased
Staying at home alone should not be viewed as a sign of loneliness, but if your loved ones are spending a growing amount of time at home without the companionship of friends and family, you should get treated more seriously. That is evident if they make more excuses to stay at home rather than attend family gatherings or spend time with friends or family.
- Cues verbal
Seniors may express their loneliness to you or even say it aloud, according to Hadar Swersky, Co-founder and chairman of the Age group. You may need to watch for subtle signals, such as when your loved ones say they don’t have someone to talk to or that they wish to visit friends more frequently.