Most of us are fortunate enough to be surrounded by family, friends, or companions throughout our lifetime. However, not all of us have that all-important somebody to talk to or share our concerns with. Being left alone or feeling isolated and lonely can have devastating effects on your general wellbeing, both mentally and emotionally. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to combat loneliness in later life.
Wellbeing and Being Well
We all are responsible for our own general welfare. However, sometimes there can be factors that can have a knock-on effect.
Things that impact our wellbeing could be as simple as lack of sleep, stress, or even inactivity caused by loneliness. These could all contribute to lower than normal emotional or mental wellbeing.
Being aware of your wellbeing status is key to making sure you are taking the right steps to improve yourself. In doing so, you’ll be able to address any problems. You should notice a better you, even if you stick with just one of these. However for maximum effect, if you are able to make adjustments for all of these you should see an almost immediate change.
Be Kind: Do something nice for a friend, family member, or even a complete stranger. When we do good, we feel good.
Become More Active: Improve your energy and mood levels by taking part in any form of exercise. Walking counts as exercise, too, so don’t discount its health benefits.
Learn Something New: Broaden your knowledge, whilst improving your confidence and, most importantly, having fun in the process.
Build Bridges: Enhance connections with people around you, whether they are friends or not. Whilst stepping outside of your comfort zone is daunting, it can potentially be rewarding. Don’t knock it before you’ve tried it!
Battling Loneliness
On top of this, there are things that you can do to put yourself in the best possible position to combat loneliness. Here are just a few things to consider:
Join a Social Club: This is a perfect opportunity to meet and make new friends. You can enjoy a hot cup of tea, and maybe even meet someone special!
Volunteer: Give something back to a good cause, and meet like-minded people in the process.
Get Yourself a Pet: A pet is the perfect companion for anybody who is feeling lonely.
Sign Up to a Befriending Service: Nowadays there are more services that offer companionship for those who are feeling lonely. These can be official care providers, or just volunteers who call up and have a chat every week.
Go on Holiday: This may be subject to your financial situation, but there are many holidays catering to over-60s. International coach trips are a great way of seeing some sights and making friends, along with cruises.
“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.” – Dalai Lama
Reassurance in Later Life
If you are living alone, or just need some extra reassurance around the home, consider a personal alarm from Carelink24. With a personal alarm, help is always a button press away. Simply activate your alarm after a fall or if you need help, and our trained Care Team will answer your alert and arrange help on your behalf.
To find out more, read our guide to the Carelink service. Alternatively, to find out more or order your personal alarm today, call our friendly team on 0800 0076 247.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 7th August 2023 to reflect current information.
