The human being has always needed to be part of social groups to organize daily life through the exercise of roles. Being surrounded by other people provides company, support and guidance to face life's dilemmas. For this reason, social bonds are a fundamental part of development at any stage of life. Especially in older adulthood, when people experience significant losses such as, for example, those related to physical health.
When a person feels lonely or without social support, it is said that he/she is experiencing loneliness. According to the RAE, loneliness is the "voluntary or involuntary lack of companionship" or it can also be understood as "regret and melancholy felt due to the absence, death or loss of someone or something" (Real Academia Española, 2022). Two common events in older adulthood that affect the experience of loneliness are: widowhood and retirement. Both represent an emotional imbalance because they incite the person to organize his or her life in the face of the new reality.
There are three types of loneliness according to Perez (2022), which are:
-Chronic: Endures over the years and is characterized by the inability to establish satisfactory social bonds.
-Situational: Occurs after a triggering event, a crisis that destabilizes the person such as the death of a loved one or a divorce.
-Transitory: This is defined as loneliness experienced during a period even though having social exchange.
Loneliness is a problem that should not be overlooked and requires immediate attention because it can harm the health of the elderly.
Some physical effects of loneliness in older adults can be: insomnia, increased blood pressure and weakened immune system. And regarding the psychological and social area, loneliness can generate consequences such as: low self-esteem, increased risk of suicide, depression and social isolation (Camargo and Chavarro, 2019).
Any older adult who shows signs of experiencing loneliness should be seen immediately. They have the right to receive the corresponding medical and psychological support. It is also important that they belong to groups or associations in which they share with other older adults and engage in recreational activities.
Social interaction with friends, physical activity and sharing with family prevents loneliness and contributes to a better experience of aging with social support. This allows them to enrich others with their knowledge and use their full potential as older adults.
Bibliographic references
Real Academia Española (2022). Diccionario de la lengua española, 23rd ed., [version 23.5 online]. Retrieved from: https://dle.rae.es
Camargo Rojas CM, Chavarro Carvajal DA. The feeling of loneliness in older people: knowledge and timely screening. Univ. Med. 2020;61(2). https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.umed 61-2. essm
Perez, A. (2022). Prevalence of feelings of loneliness in older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic. Universidad Autónoma De Nuevo León, Mexico. Retrieved from:http://eprints.uanl.mx/23358/1/TESIS%20PREVALENCIA%20ADULTOS%20MAYORES%20ABPV.pdf
