Treating Hearing Loss Helps You Stay Connected

“I don’t talk to many people.”

“It’s too hard to go out, I’d rather stay home.”

“I’ve been pretty lonely these days.”

You may have heard comments like these from an older adult in your life, such as a parent or a grandparent. Though it’s easy to dismiss these complaints as harmless, they could be indicative of a potentially serious health risk: isolation. Recent statistics from the National Council on Aging show that about 17 percent of adults age 65 and older — over 6.7 million people — live in social or geographical isolation, or both. This is a fairly new research topic, but there is already evidence that loneliness and isolation can have serious consequences in terms of physical health, mental well-being and overall quality of life. There are a multitude of factors that increase the chances of someone becoming isolated, and one of these is untreated hearing loss, which can prevent us from engaging with others. If you are wondering how to make sure your loved one stays connected with the world around them, one of the most important things you can do is help them take steps to treat their hearing loss with hearing aids. Read on for further information about recognizing the signs of isolation, and what you can do to stay involved.

What exactly is isolation?

According to one study, the health risks of long-term isolation are similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But what is isolation? While it might be natural to equate isolation with loneliness, there is actually more to it than that.

• Loneliness (also known as subjective isolation) describes how people perceive their experience and whether or not they feel isolated.
• Objective isolation is measurable through specific data, such as the size of one’s social network (and the frequency of engagement with it), availability of transportation, and ability to access resources and information. It is caused by becoming detached from others physically or psychologically, and lacking support from family, friends and community, and can have dramatic implications on a person’s health.

Recognizing the signs

Isolation in senior citizens is not often caused by a single event. Rather, it usually results from a combination of factors, including poor physical and mental health, poorly designed communities, and major life changes such as the loss of a loved one, and retirement. Other factors such as untreated hearing or vision loss, difficulty walking, falls and injuries, and living alone play a major role as well. Friends and family members are usually the first to spot the signs of isolation, but may not take these signals seriously. Here are some common signs of isolation to watch out for:

• As well as making statements such as, “I don’t talk to many people” or “It’s too hard to get anywhere,” an isolated older person may seem bored, disinterested and withdrawn.
• Their personal hygiene may start to suffer.
• You might notice poor eating and nutrition habits, and there may be clear home disrepair, clutter or hoarding.
• They may often feel left out, and avoid socializing because it’s difficult to hear in background noise.

How to help your loved one stay connected

Many of the challenges that go along with aging, such as physical illness, the loss of a loved one and lack of mobility, can put older adults at risk — but that doesn’t mean that isolation is inevitable. Staying connected to family, friends and community is the most important means of combating this condition. Here are some tips to help your older loved one maintain their connections with neighbors, family and friends.

• Focus on doing things with your loved one, instead of for them. Grocery shopping and errands with a senior may be more time-consuming, but they will probably welcome the opportunity to get out of the house, and will benefit from staying active.
• Help them sign up for new activities in the community. Senior centers, community centers, libraries, YMCAs and others offer a wide variety of activities geared toward older adults. The AARP has spearheaded a campaign called Connect2Affect which is working to create solutions to isolation–find local programs for seniors and volunteer opportunities near you through their useful database here.
• Encourage them to volunteer for a hobby or a cause that’s important to them. Helping others can reinvigorate an older adult by giving them a sense of purpose and value.
• Take them for a hearing test and make sure they talk with a healthcare professional about possible solutions to their hearing loss.

Visit Us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services

Our team at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services is here to help. We provide comprehensive hearing tests and hearing aid fittings. If you’ve been feeling disconnected, contact us today for a hearing test.