Reducing the loneliness: the health benefits of live in care

by Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, M. Stud. Ph.D. MIHM, Dignity Advisor for Helping Hands

Britain is an ageing society, improvements in medical treatments and facilities over the last fifty years mean that people are living longer than ever before. This is great news and improvements in life expectancy should be applauded.

Due to various government initiatives on enabling older people to live independently at home, more and more older people are choosing to live at home with a little support from carers. While this promotes independence and choice this situation also leads to isolation for older people in many cases. There are many people who live on their own with little or no contact with others. Their lack of structured social interaction, could lead to loneliness and depression, There is increasing evidence which suggests that access to social activity can result in improvements in health and emotional well-being.

The introduction of a live in carer in such cases can be a positive step forward. The carer may well be the only regular contact with the outside world and will be a valuable source of social interaction, especially when the person receiving live in care is involved in meaningful social activities such as cooking together or reading the newspaper and discussing the events.

Too many of Britain’s older people live a life of loneliness, a live in carer can be the key which unlocks the door to social interaction, that is currently closed for so many.