Recognizing signs of loneliness in the elderly
Loneliness among the elderly is not always immediately visible. Many people do not talk about it easily. Sometimes older people do not want to burden their children or find it difficult to admit that they feel alone.
However, there are often subtle signals that can indicate that someone feels lonely. Also read the main page about this topic:
Common signs of lonely elderly people
Loneliness can manifest itself in various ways.
Common signs are:
- weinig initiatief om contact te zoeken
- often say that the days are long
- less interest in hobbies or activities
- gloom or quiet behavior
- little structure in the day
- staying indoors more often
Sometimes a person's behavior also changes. An older person who used to be active may gradually withdraw more and more.
Why older people often hide their loneliness
Veel ouderen hebben geleerd om zelfstandig te blijven en hun problemen niet snel te delen.
That is why you sometimes hear statements such as:
- “I’m doing fine, really.”
- “Ik red me prima.”
- You already have your hands full enough.
Yet, a feeling of loneliness may lurk behind these words.
Lees ook: Mijn moeder is eenzaam
What can you do if you recognize the signs?
When you notice that an elderly person feels lonely, regular contact can already make a big difference.
Bijvoorbeeld:
- vaker even bellen
- samen een wandeling maken
- drinking coffee together
- plan an activity
Soms helpt het ook wanneer er extra gezelschap van buiten de familie komt.
Read more about this here: What can a companion mean?
