A recent examination of elderly patients in healthcare settings reveals a troubling trend: many of them experience profound loneliness, which can significantly impact their health. This problem is most pronounced for those 85 and older, where about 35% live alone. This piece explores the challenges older patients encounter. It looks at the family context of their care and the harmful health impacts of social isolation.
There are a number of older patients in a healthcare setting surrounded by three friendly guys, who are probably adorned in different forms of apparel. While these men embody the support system that makes life better for some residents, their involvement underscores the unequal role that family plays from case to case. One nonagenarian is shown sitting by himself in the field without the smallest trace of happiness. An 87-year-old woman complains that her pills “rattle,” but struggles to identify which specific drug is causing her stress.
The emotional isolation felt by these elderly patients hits hardest on weekends, when many are left with little company but their thoughts, or outright dying patients. A 90-year-old patient with significant accumulated lung damage from smoking, which may appear scary on paper. Pleased though we are to see this, he ends up with a far superior outcome than one would expect. This contrast brings us to the question of how emotional and social aspects affect healing.
Healthcare providers categorize elderly patients into two groups: about half of those over 75 are referred to as “young old,” while the remainder fall into the “old old” category. This new categorization could dramatically change the way that healthcare providers treat and interact with transgender patients.
Family involvement varies significantly among patients. The pandemic strain on America’s hospitals has drawn upon entire families, with one son spending each night at his parents’ hospital bed, others alternating visits. One elderly Vietnamese patient receives 24-hour in-home care from two of her children. Their Greek counterpart with dozens of worried nephews and nieces is supported by her extended family.
Family can provide critical insight into medical history. Receiving ongoing care and support. One son serves as her eyes and ears on medications, the other supplies food daily. This becomes a challenge when a patient requires an interpreter. In these instances, everyday things like Google Translate become our best friend and help us find shared communication means.
The intricacies of interprofessional communication can result in inappropriate delays of patient care. For one patient it took three days to establish contact with a family member. This case underscores the immense importance of clear, prompt communication in any clinical environment. Patients always rise to the occasion when they know what they’re up against, which all speaks further to the need to stay connected and informed.
Even with these family efforts, elderly patients are still largely very lonely. One of the young doctors who has been working in the facility told us how concerned he was about this situation.
“It’s so sad to see all these lonely people with no visitors.” – a young doctor
This type of wisdom rings true with those in the health space, as many healthcare professionals insist on social engagement as key to healthy aging for older patients. They urge families and caregivers not to be dismissive or judgmental of the situations that cause this kind of isolation.
Patients who are elderly face a painful truth on a daily basis. This prevalence epitomizes the critical need for greater awareness and proactive measures to protect their mental and emotional well-being. Our healthcare facilities need to face the music that loneliness is much more than an emotional burden. It can even lead to increased mortality and morbidity among patients.