Communication is just a click away nowadays, but not everyone is up-to-date.
Despite society being more connected than ever before, our elderly are often excluded from these digital communication channels, leading to a direct impact on their mental health. And it is not a passing phenomenon: it is a silently growing trend.
But… What is loneliness? What is isolation?
Loneliness is that painful feeling one experiences when they lack emotional connection or companionship, while isolation is the physical absence of a support network, friends or family.
According to the National Library of Medicine, elderly populations in Europe are increasingly facing loneliness and isolation, with almost 20% of elderly adults living alone, often due to health issues, widowhood, and the loss of social networks. Being alone not only affects people emotionally, it also impacts the body, giving way to cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 6 people are affected by loneliness worldwide, and that loneliness is linked to 100 deaths every hour, or more than 871,000 deaths annually.
For this reason, strong social connections are the foundation of a healthy society, as they can lead to better health and longer lives. The report finds that loneliness not only afflicts the elderly, but also youth in low-income countries. Social connections are not a luxury, but rather a public necessity.
For this reason, an initiative promoted by Matter Neuroscience, in Boston, Massachusetts (United States), has sought to promote communication between local youth and seniors living in the Reno, Nevada area, located more than 3,000 kilometers away.
The bright yellow “Call a Boomer” public payphones seeks to connect those over the age of 60 with today’s youth – providing real voice connection. At a time when everything is digital, the campaign reinforces the idea that speaking is still the most powerful communication tool we have, and that “simple” solutions can still be the answer to complex social problems.
Sources:
– National Library of Medicine – Uncovering the Impact of Loneliness in Aging Populations
– World Health Organization – Social connection is linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death
Tomilli