{"id":18199,"date":"2024-12-10T09:55:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T07:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liiveri.net\/?p=18199"},"modified":"2024-12-10T09:55:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T07:55:23","slug":"ikaantyneiden-yksinaisyyden-hinta-on-kova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liiveri.net\/en\/uutiset\/ikaantyneiden-yksinaisyyden-hinta-on-kova\/","title":{"rendered":"The price of loneliness for the elderly is high"},"content":{"rendered":"

A survey by the Finnish Red Cross from last year speaks harshly: Almost one in ten of the Red Cross's friends' activities clients do not exchange news with anyone other than our volunteers. According to the Loneliness Barometer, which was commissioned several times a year, loneliness among the elderly has increased in recent years. Half of those over 65 experience loneliness at least sometimes and a fifth monthly or more often. Loneliness has often continued for longer in the elderly.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A good everyday life consists of many things. What it consists of is individual and means different things to different people. However, it is undeniable that loneliness significantly weakens a good everyday life and well-being. Prolonged loneliness affects the elderly in particular.<\/p>\n

In South Ostrobothnia, loneliness among the elderly costs 46 million euros per year. The price is high and is based on the social price tag of loneliness calculated in Great Britain, which is 11,400 euros per year per lonely person. The amount takes into account the costs caused by severe loneliness, such as health and well-being costs. In Finland, too, observations have been made that lonely people use medical services more. Loneliness increases the risk of, among other things, cardiovascular diseases, memory disorders, depression and even cancer, and shortens life expectancy. Loneliness is often the root cause of illnesses and unwellness.<\/p>\n

Loneliness can be reduced <\/strong><\/p>\n

Red Cross branches in several locations organize friend activities, where volunteers visit lonely people at home. For an elderly person living alone, regular visits from a volunteer friend bring a sense of security and joy to their lonely everyday life. Often, just being present is enough, but the company of a volunteer friend often encourages the elderly person to get out and about outside the home.<\/p>\n

This autumn, the Finnish Red Cross and Red Crescent Society's Western Finland district has convened the Southern Ostrobothnia loneliness network, which includes associations and organizations working on loneliness. In addition, a request has been made to municipalities to nominate 2 municipal representatives to the network. There was a clear need to establish the network. There were a wide range of motivated participants at the first network meeting. The network enables a broader identification of loneliness and regional differences in different population groups, as well as the compilation of information so that no one is left behind. The goal is to identify the needs for preventive and corrective work, improve the flow of information and intensify cooperation. The dialogue will help to better highlight existing methods for reducing loneliness, and to find out what can be done together and what can be influenced as a network.<\/p>\n

The costs of loneliness to society are significant and should be addressed. There are many ways to reduce loneliness:<\/p>\n