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What Does Isolation Look Like for Seniors?

Isolation is a way of life for hundreds and thousands of senior citizens across India. According to recent surveys, a striking fact has come to light More and more senior citizens are choosing to stay alone at home. This is for many reasons including to maintain their specific daily routine which is different from other members in their families, to enjoy their private space, to relish the perks of retirement, to live peacefully away from the chaos. Although isolation gives them the opportunity to live freely and independently, it is extremely essential that they have access to all basic facilities and amenities around them round-the-clock.


While some prefer to live alone, others are compelled by situations like children living abroad, not having children, death/separation of spouse, daughters marrying off, and being single throughout their lives. While mental strength works for a few, most seniors get vulnerable due to physical and mental sufferings and limited mobility issues. Some of the difficulties that they face are listed below.

● Alone for hours and days:
Often staying unaccompanied, seniors face trouble getting around. From a simple bathroom call to visiting the medical outlet next door, even the simplest life skills and activities get extremely difficult for them. With advanced age, they also become unfit for driving, and this makes social and medical visits difficult. Isolation, even for a few hours, makes them perplexed about a thousand things- from preparing their next meal, to answering a phone call, booking a cab, cleaning their living space, etc.

● Wellbeing gets impacted:
For seniors, isolation often translates to succumbing to chronic illnesses and more frequent hospitalizations. It is common amongst seniors to forget their medicines or doctors appointments, follow an unhealthy diet, skip exercises, etc. which lessen their life expectancy. . and affects their holistic wellbeing. It gets even worse for those who develop dementia, depression or have physical disability.

Safety gets compromised:
Millions of seniors end up at the hospital emergency room after slipping and falling in their house – tripping over the carpet, slipping on water in the bathroom, getting imbalanced stepping over spills on the kitchen floor, facing difficulty in climbing stairs, etc. and as a result their safety gets compromised in a million ways. Falls are very dangerous for seniors and preventing them is essential to avoid and reduce fatality.

● Mental health deteriorates:
The major responsibilities and burdens of middle age are over by the time we enter old age and retire. From a hectic schedule with no time, we enter a phase of freedom and leisure. However, many seniors struggle to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. As a result, their mental and cognitive health often deteriorates. We must be aware of changes in behaviour, personality and routine that may point to

● Inability to communicate:
Staying well, unfortunately doesn’t always mean living happily, given the present Indian family system. Often the seniors need more than just fulfilling day-to-day requirements. They need people around them to enjoy a good meal, gossip about a favourite show on TV, visit the nearest mall or park, to find motivation for exercising, and to communicate their needs. That seniors often get fearful of change, makes it all the more difficult for people around them to assist them.

Ray of hope


While regular consultation through conversation is one of the ways to stay updated about their wellbeing, one should always be near to them or at least stay connected over the phone. One can also consider installing video cameras to keep a check on safety and security of seniors living alone. Since seniors too feel the need for socializing and indulging in hobbies, they can be relocated to senior living residences where they can live independently and live life on their own terms, socialize as much they want and carry on the activities they love. Staying at an assisted living home gives seniors the opportunity to socialize with like-minded people.

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Last modified: November 16, 2021
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