COVID-19 Lingering Effects on Senior Isolation

2020 was a rough year for everybody but was especially rough on loved ones that were in assisted living facilities. There were many that were unable to see any family due to their higher risks the elderly had to COVID-19 along with isolation protocols that many facilities put into place to prevent the virus from spreading to other residents.

Now, towards the end of 2022, we are seeing most of those safety restrictions lifted and residents are able to see their loved ones. It is important we study the effects that COVID-19 had on senior isolation to help improve our approach against future virus outbreaks.

The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted a national poll of U.S. adults from the ages of 50-80 with the goal of understanding isolation behaviors during this time. The poll was actually a follow up to a previous survey that was conducted in 2018 which offered a good analysis around the senior isolation effects COVID-19 had on those aging adults.

We pulled some of the statistics that stood out the most when going through the conclusions of the study to better understand the challenges we face as caregivers post-COVID. Here were a few of those statistical conclusions:

• 41% of adults age 50-80 reported feeling a lack of companionship versus 34% in 2018.
• 56% of adults age 50-80 reported feeling isolated in 2020 versus 27% in 2018. The percentage more than doubled in just a couple of years and highlighted the massive increase in senior isolation that occurred during COVID-19.
• 46% of adults age 50-80 reported infrequent social contact with family versus 28% in 2018.
• Women were more likely to report feelings of isolation (47%) versus men (35%).

The challenges faced across the U.S. during 2020 might make some of these conclusions less surprising but the lingering effects of senior isolation are still being seen in 2022. The same poll cited that chronic loneliness can adversely affect memory, physical health, and life longevity. Aging loved ones in the age range of 50-80 can see those isolation effects amplify even more than younger people.

As a caregiver or family of an aging loved one, it is important that if you are unable to have physical contact with them that you utilize other mediums to interact with them. The use of video chat and other technology can help buffer some of those feelings of isolation and lessen the effects of chronic isolation for your aging loved one.

It is important to know what available technologies an assisted living facility might have to combat those feelings of isolation if you are currently in the process of finding one right now. You can ask about their video chat capabilities and if the staff can help seniors that might struggle with that technology.

It is also recommended that you ask them what their protocols were during COVID-19 and if they have changed any to prepare for future virus outbreaks. Senior Living Specialists has intimate knowledge of the facilities in Texas to help you make the best decision around senior care for your loved one.