Isolation: Deadly link for seniors

By VIVIAN FENSTER EHRLICH
McCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
In recent weeks, several major studies have been reported that link social isolation among seniors to various forms of dementia and Alzheimer's. These studies, one conducted by the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a more recent study by the Alzheimer's Association, also show a dramatic increase in the numbers of people affected by these debilitating diseases. In the case of Alzheimer's, at least 5 million people are affected, an increase of 10 percent in just the last five years. Sadly, this number will rise as the senior population, the fastest growing segment in the nation, continues to increase.
Although it is not the main cause, researchers have found an important link between these and other diseases and the disconnection of seniors who live alone from their families and their communities. This disconnection, commonly referred to as social isolation, affects millions of seniors, especially those who are frail and homebound, each year. Because our nation's elderly population, those 65 and older, is growing at an unprecedented rate, we must consider the effect social isolation will have on our society, particularly since more and more seniors find the cost of convalescent care or assisted living facilities beyond their reach.
A number of factors contribute to seniors' experience of social isolation. These include the loss of a longtime spouse or partner or the loss of close friends. Many seniors are separated from their families because of time, distance and other factors. In addition to dementia and Alzheimer's, seniors living alone are prone to injury in their homes, face shortages of food, and suffer bouts of depression. Many lack companionship and other crucial supports that are basic to human functionality.
Home health care
There are assistive programs in place for seniors across the nation, including meal deliveries and home health care programs for those who are immobile. And several states have begun to think creatively and progressively about new ways to help seniors in their homes. In California, Texas and Florida, Medicare introduced a program providing "house calls" by doctors to 20,000 of its sickest beneficiaries. The New Jersey legislature proposed a paid leave program for new parents or those caring for a family member. And a new Colorado law allowing the state to negotiate lower drug prices for generic drugs has been hailed as a boon for fixed-income elderly and the poor. But these programs are few and far between; most undergo drastic or fatal cuts when the time comes to balance federal, state and local budgets.
Many community and faith-based organizations are attempting to fill the gap by developing programs to assist those who are at risk of social isolation. One such program, commonly referred to as "friendly visiting," enlists volunteers who spend an hour or so each week visiting with a senior. In addition to providing much-needed companionship, these volunteers often act as eyes and ears for senior service organizations, particularly when an elderly person experiences difficulty in his or her home. In some cases, friendly visiting programs are the only line of defense for seniors who are at risk of becoming socially isolated.
Government and foundation support for these programs is still limited, despite the fact that clinical studies -- notably the Rush study in Chicago -- show that such programs may help seniors to avoid isolation and collateral effects such as dementia. Our nation would be wise to expand and support these programs if we are truly committed to meeting the physical and social needs of seniors living alone at home. Failing to do so would be an injustice to them and, in the not-so-distant future, to us.
Vivian Fenster Ehrlich is executive director of Dorot Inc., one of New York's major providers of services to homebound seniors and their caregivers. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.