The power of community and making social connections to our health
There is great power in community and in the power of social connections and being together. There is also the adverse power of isolation and neglect. Sadly, we are experiencing almost epidemic levels of loneliness, across all age groups, not just the elderly. There are more and more people living alone, working from home and not connecting with friends face to face.
When people live alone, it is important to have a support network in place, a friendship group or community to feel part of and belong to. There is lots of evidence around the importance of belonging and having a purpose. When considering the research, a lack of purpose in life can be linked with mental health disorders in later life, addiction and other major health problems.
Our purpose can very often be connected to our place in society and within a family. “What am I here for? What do I do?” Many of my patients who know me well know I feel fulfilled by my role within society. I joke about it – it takes me about half an hour to buy a pint of milk in the supermarket because of the patients and acquaintances that I meet on the way, “Oh, hello, how are you?” “How’s your shoulder?” and so on. I like that my job gives me a sense of purpose and to help people.
Human connection is a primal need, deeply rooted in our psychology, development, and physiology. The ability to relate to others and feel secure in relationships is crucial for well-being. Loneliness and heartache are common negative emotions and when they become overwhelming support from others can help avoid feeling isolated. The powerful impact of connection is well-documented in research, which explains the physiological effects of these experiences.
The fact that there is more Alzheimer’s disease associated with people who have suffered loneliness is clear, but exactly how it happens we are not entirely sure. There are lots of theories about it, but it makes sense if friendship groups diminish and then people can feel the pain of being isolated. Unfortunately, the elderly who are alone and lonely can experience a decline in their overall health and mental health has a direct correlation with loneliness. If people are lonely, then there is no doubt their mental well-being can deteriorate, and they will really struggle.
Fortunately, there are support systems where volunteers organise events to unite people who are lonely. Also, there are many ways to overcome loneliness, even if a person lives alone and finds it hard to get out. Overall, it is a persuasive argument for the power of community, the power of people, society and being social – stay connected and reap the benefits for your health.
You can watch my video on this on my YouTube channel. Just click on this link: https://youtu.be/Ojse9UpoUMg?si=LJHTaidM_Eh0u8wR
