[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to Al Jazeera on February 12, an estimated 200,000 elderly people in the UK have not spoken to a friend or relative in over a month, with more than half of those over 75 living alone.In January, the UK appointed Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport, as the nation's first "Minister for Loneliness" to assist socially vulnerable individuals experiencing isolation.
British senior citizen John Corbet-Singleton feels increasingly lonely. His wife's passing two and a half years ago left a void in his life.The 90-year-old, who had been married for 65 years, clearly values companionship and friendship. He said he misses his wife deeply but must carry on living alone. The solution arranged by the charity involves John providing a room for 21-year-old student Poppy Jane Morgan. She will assist John with shopping, cooking, and going for walks.This arrangement is mutually beneficial. Most importantly, they like each other.
Reports indicate loneliness is subjective, experienced differently by individuals and societies. However, Dr. Kellie Payne states loneliness's impact on health is measurable. Chronic loneliness makes people vulnerable to numerous health issues, with researchers finding its health risks equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes daily.Lonely individuals face higher risks of heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's, while loneliness also fuels mental health issues like depression and suicide. One solution involves pairing young people with seniors living alone, while another brings youth into nursing homes for social activities like cocktail hours and conversation.In the UK, three-quarters of older adults report feeling lonely, with nearly half stating television is their primary companion. Why are older adults prone to loneliness? 1. Strained relationships with children The generation gap between older adults and younger generations is widening. Older adults' entrenched values and lifestyles are often unrecognized by younger generations, leading to diminished intergenerational interaction and separation from children.
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China's family structure has shifted from multi-generational households to nuclear or dual-generation units. After marriage, children often move away from elders, making family gatherings rare.
3. Good children pursue their ambitions far and wide; bad children neglect their elders.
Children driven by strong career ambitions rarely stay close to accompany their parents. Some children with questionable conscience are only interested in their parents' inheritance and labor, showing no concern for the elders' well-being, health, or personal interests.
4. Lack of Interest and Leisure Options
Many seniors never cultivated personal hobbies. After leaving the workforce, their days revolve around eating, sleeping, and watching TV, leaving them emotionally and physically adrift.
5. Pathological and Physiological Changes
Age-related pathological or physiological changes, such as cerebral arteriosclerosis or hormonal imbalances, trigger psychological shifts in the elderly. These changes can make some seniors withdrawn or eccentric.
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6. Shift in Social Status
After retirement, seniors detach from their former workplaces.Their pace of life slows, their sphere of activity narrows, and social interactions diminish. Many seniors struggle to adapt to these changes, fostering feelings of social abandonment and neglect. 7. Changes in Family Status Within traditional extended families in China, elders held central authority and significant roles. As parents and elders, they commanded respect and influence from younger generations.The generation gap between the elderly and younger generations tends to widen, as the values and lifestyles cherished by the elderly are often not recognized by the younger generation. 8. Passive Social Interaction Lonely seniors often struggle to form close friendships due to passive social approaches and a lack of essential social skills. Interacting with them can be unpleasant, making it difficult for them to build relationships that would help develop these skills and escape loneliness.
9. Negative Self- and Other-Perceptions
Lonely seniors may be more introverted, anxious, sensitive to rejection, and prone to depression. They spend less time with friends, rarely attend gatherings, and lack close companions. In social interactions, they hold extremely negative views of both themselves and others.