Social relationships are not only crucial for your mental health, but they also benefit your physical health. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 25% of adults age 65 or older are socially isolated. About 33% of U.S. adults over the age of 45 reports they’re lonely.
Companionship is essential as you age. If your parents are lonely, it’s worth taking a closer look at companion care at home. Here are just a few of the things studies have found about the benefits of socialization and friendship.
People With Strong Social Networks Lower Health Risks
A Brigham Young University study looked at close to 150 reports involving 308,000 participants. The people in these studies with a strong friend and family support group were 50% more likely to survive health issues than with little socialization. Plus, those people with small social networks had a 2x lower survival rate than obese people and the same as smokers.
A University College London study looked especially at men and women over the age of 51. In that study, the 6,500 lonely and isolated participants were more likely to die earlier than those with strong social connections.
Dr. John Cacioppo looked at 2,100 adults 50 or older and found that if they felt isolated, the outcomes were worse than in those who were actually isolated. You can be surrounded by friends and family and still feel isolated, impacting your health.
Why is this true? Studies show that people who feel lonely or isolated have higher blood pressure and symptoms of depression. Those issues impact your physical health in many ways. People with high blood pressure have an increased risk of heart disease. Depressive symptoms can affect your mental health and lead to conditions like chronic anxiety that make it hard to function each day.
Strong Support Teams Led to Better Cancer Outcomes
A study done back in 2012 looked at over 4,500 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Women with the better outcomes had strong support teams of friends and family. They had people to turn to for comfort and social support, which is why researchers believe the survival rates were better.
Dr. Lisa Jaremka of the Ohio State University looked at the cases of 200 breast cancer survivors. The women who didn’t have strong support teams experienced higher levels of depression, fatigue, and pain. The study also found the immune system wasn’t as strong in people with small circles of friends.
Why? A University of California doctor, Dr. Steve Cole, and his associates found that the white blood cells in lonely men and women respond to the feelings of loneliness. Those cells provide initial immune responses to help battle diseases. If the cells are worn out from feeling lonely, they have less energy to put towards battles against diseases like cancer.
Companion care at home services keep your mom and dad from feeling lonely. Talk to a home care agency to schedule caregiver visits.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/01/cover-friends
Home Care San in Diego, CA by Innovative Healthcare Consultants 