Do Your Medications Increase Your Risk of Falling? Living alone is dangerous for your health! It doesn't have to be! Living alone is something that countless individuals do, as they often prefer having their own space to sharing a place with a roommate or moving in with family members. But sometimes it can feel a little stressful: isn't living alone dangerous? Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Living alone or feeling lonely can increase your risk of premature death. It is generally said that a person can never live alone in an area but you will be surprised to know that there are many people in the world who live alone in a whole city. Posts about dangers of living alone written by susan. On the one hand they may forget to take their medication regularly. One possibility is that an older person who seldom sees friends and family is less likely to get the help they need in managing various ailments, and is probably also less likely to be encouraged to go see a doctor when new health problems pop up. And because women outlive men, the percentages of women living alone are even higher; 46% of American women over the age of 75 live alone. Get to Know Your Neighbor. For years, it was assumed that the early onset of dementia signified the end of independence. If living alone can let one decide their life with their own conditions, then these disadvantages can differentiate between the benefits and cons of living alone. Sign up for our free email newsletter and receive the best stories from Smithsonian.com each week. Understanding the dangers of the elderly living alone with dementia and how to combat them is the first step to ensuring your loved one’s safety and care while allowing them to age in place. Why Living Alone Is Dangerous to Your Health. In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a group of researchers from University College London attempted to explore the health consequences of those who are isolated from others, and found that limited contact with others increases a person’s overall risk of death over time. When the researchers controlled for baseline health and age, the mortality gap between the lonely and the non-lonely largely vanished. As a lady living alone, there are tons of dangers that come with living solo. According to the American Association of Retired Persons, almost 90 percent of those over the age of 65 would prefer to be in their home for as long as possible. How Aging at Home Can Benefit Adults with Dementia. So before moving in, you can check the fire escapes and exit doors in the building. Image via Flickr user eflon. I like coming home after work, taking my pants off, throwing my hair on top of my head in a big pile and laying in my bed to read or watch shameful television… Vote Now! Living alone could be dangerous for your health, especially for those who have suffered heart attack and stroke, says a new study. Know how to escape if a fire or natural disaster happens. Elderly Living: 7 Dangers of Seniors Living Alone at Home Monday, February 3, 2020 The sad truth is that a lot of us become less able to be independent as we age. But then, living alone is dangerous, as a girl, in most of the places today. Make sure all exit doors and locks are not blocked. Waking up from your nightmare in the middle of the night is even worse and you literally clutch on to your sheets for dear life. You would swear up and down that your dream is going to become reality. The authors emphasize that the remaining 81 percent of the population was not deprived or living in poverty, but consisted mainly of middle-class and skilled and unskilled workers. This is a very real concern because depression has been linked to more rapid onset and/or progression of other age-related mental conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. While many of those in their 70s, 80s and even their 90s can live completely independent lives, certain physical and mental conditions can cause dangerous scenarios for seniors living alone. Risk of Accidental Overdoses. Even after the participants’ baseline health and demographic factors were taken into account, being socially isolated still correlated to an increase in their mortality. According to the analysis, the main driver seems to be loneliness. For numerous seniors, aging in place means living at home, oftentimes alone, throughout their golden years. Privacy Statement There are about 11.3 million citizens living alone within the country. And living alone can feel liberating—the only dishes in the sink are ones you put there, everything is exactly your taste and the bookshelf is a perfect portrait of your psychology and your psychology only. I live alone and I never feel lonely. Edition. 17th Annual Photo Contest Finalists Announced. It's a hard fact to face, but it's something you may need to consider thoughtfully if you have an elderly loved one who is still living on their own. Danish researchers began studying 3,346 men, average age 63, in 1985, tracking their health for 32 years. 61 Awesome Benefits Of Living Alone. Living alone and having a nightmare is a totally different ball game. Just me, myself and Netflix. Being around others, it seems, helps us ensure that we take better care of ourselves—so if you’re planning on joining the many who have opted to live solo, you’re best off making sure you maintain frequent contact with friends and family. … or The analysis, in European Heart Journal Quality of Care & Clinical Outcomes, controlled for a variety of health and behavioral characteristics, including body mass index, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes and blood lipid levels. Yeah yeah, all sorts of perils come with living alone: close encounters with burglars and choking on melba toast and slipping in the shower and being crushed by falling sofabeds (or maybe that last one’s just me). Loneliness increased a person’s risk of death by 26 percent, social isolation by 29 percent, and living alone by 32 percent. Continue NEWS CORONAVIRUS POLITICS 2020 ELECTIONS ENTERTAINMENT LIFE PERSONAL VIDEO SHOPPING. #4. But for the rest, the lower the socioeconomic status, the higher the risk for death. Of course, it depends on what kind of apartment you get and which area you choose, but sharing a home with 3-4 people normally works out to be cheaper than renting on your own. Flat sharing is normally cheaper than living alone – many students and young professionals live together to share expenses and save money. Isolation: Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease,... 2. This jibes with previous work by other researchers, such as the fact that living alone with a serious cardiovascular problem makes you more likely to die, and a 2011 Finnish finding that living on your own increases your risk of mortality from an alcohol-related death. A recent study published in the journal Perspectives in Psychological Science found being well connected was associated with greater longevity. What this means is that they usually end up living alone. Aging Alone and Well. Elder Abuse. Still, men who lived alone had a 23 percent increased risk for dying prematurely from any cause and a 36 percent increased risk for cardiovascular death. The area is deserted for the last nine years. I am going anonymous for the reasons you will find in the answer below. Over the period, 89 percent of the men died, 39 percent from cardiovascular diseases. For many of us, this will mean forfeiting the exact type of property or the area that we want. I treasure the peace of my drama-free life and active inner life. One of the most unprecedented trends of modern society is the number of people who choose to live alone. The researchers speculate that living alone might even cause people to have poorer health habits, such as smoking, eating an unhealthy diet and getting less physical activity. The Dangers of More Seniors Living Alone According to AARP, nearly 90% of people over age 65 want to stay at home for as long as possible. 14 Sharing Skills Disappear. Staying in the home that they have always been in makes sense, and it may even offer benefits to their emotional well-being. Give a Gift. If I would say no, I would be lying. But what of those who live alone and are socially isolated? “Social isolation is a global problem and won’t be solved on an individual level. Below, we have highlighted some common dangers that arise from elderly living alone. Guide on Preventing Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation; 20 Signs Your Elderly Mother is Being Abused; Helpful Products. Those who were lonely did have overall higher mortality, but this was because on average, they were older and had poorer baseline health conditions at the start. There are many reasons why a person might be living alone in their later years. Advertising Notice However, while living alone might have its perks, there are many potential dangers to watch out for. Cookie Policy According to the Administration on Aging, in 2012, 28% of all older people not currently living in an assisted living community were living at home alone. As Klinenberg notes, many people who live alone still remain highly social and connected with friends and family, so living alone doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is isolated. Lack of company: As it is quite obvious that when a person decides to live alone, then a possible possibility is that a person might be completely alone. Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. Smithsonian Institution. Interestingly, though, defining oneself as lonely—via the answers about one’s emotions and psychological state on the survey—did not have the same effect. living alone with a serious cardiovascular problem makes you more likely to die, increases your risk of mortality from an alcohol-related death, Study Rewrites History of Ancient Land Bridge Between Britain and Europe, For the Only Person Ever Hit by a Meteorite, the Real Trouble Began Later, Tens of Thousands of 12,000-Year-Old Rock Paintings Found in Colombia, Animals Are Using Utah's Largest Wildlife Overpass Earlier Than Expected, In the Ancient American Southwest, Turkeys Were Friends, Not Food, Megalodons, the Ocean's Most Ferocious Prehistoric Predators, Raised Their Young in Nurseries, Newly Discovered Underground Rivers Could Be Potential Solution for Hawai'i's Drought, Why the P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II Beast of the Airways, Ruled the Skies, There Are Over 200 Bodies on Mount Everest, And They’re Used as Landmarks, Hegra, an Ancient City in Saudi Arabia Untouched for Millennia, Makes Its Public Debut, Why a Long-Awaited Artemisia Gentileschi Exhibition Is So Significant, Why Iceland's Christmas Witch Is Much Cooler (and Scarier) Than Krampus, The Inspiring Quest to Revive the Hawaiian Language, The New Science of Our Ancient Bond With Dogs, Why Seagrass Could Be the Ocean's Secret Weapon Against Climate Change. Living alone was not associated with dying prematurely for those in the highest socioeconomic group — the 19 percent of study participants who had a university degree or worked in an executive position. This is one of the reasons that seniors living alone can be dangerous. Living alone may be bad for your health. Solo … Delhi is no exception, plus the most recent horrible incidents at Delhi would have compelled you to contemplate over this, I guess. For a senior living alone, this can create a life-threatening situation as there is nobody around to help or even call an ambulance. I’d saved it since March. It’s been well established that social isolation is a serious health risk, particularly for seniors. If there is one thing that living alone has proven, is that- in terms of self-discovery, it has successfully clarified my gender and definitely stapled that in fact I am – a girl. This indicates that the real danger of living alone is not feeling lonely per se, but having reduced contact with others. The danger of falling is serious if you find it difficult to walk without assistance or you have a past injury. Defying the Statistics “Do you like being alone?” This question begins “ A Solitary Life Carries Risk ” in the NY Times “Well” section. Senior citizens often want to live independently in familiar surroundings during their post-retirement years which is good emotionally. The medical and mental effects of this shift are complex. While having someone else around can be a good idea, various issues may arise in a roommate kind of arrangement. If you’re planning on living alone then before you even begin looking for a place then you need to know what you can comfortably afford. I see no problem with it if you are happy about it. Of the most socially isolated respondents, 21.9 percent did not survive to March 2012, as compared with 12.3 percent of the least isolated. Today we are going to tell you about one such person, who lives alone in the most dangerous place in the world. 1. Declining memory combined with living alone can create a dangerous situation for elders on medication. Structurally, how can we design cities so that they are built for social interaction?”, analysis, in European Heart Journal Quality of Care & Clinical Outcomes. COMEDY 11/18/2015 11:16 am ET. Being socially isolated increases your chance of death, but not simply because you’re feeling lonely. Living alone has its perks. As sociologist Eric Klinenberg observed in his 2012 book Going Solo, living alone was virtually unheard of in most world cultures throughout history prior to the 20th century, but an estimated 32.7 million people now live alone in the United States, accounting for about 28 percent of the country’s households today, compared with 17 percent in 1970. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. The researchers specifically looked at the association between mortality (overall risk of death) and a pair of conditions: social isolation (as indicated by a lack of contact with others) and loneliness (as reflected by participants’ answers on a survey). Besides burglars, a natural disaster is also a hidden danger for female living alone in a new city or apartment. U.S. Canada U.K. Australia Brazil España France Ελλάδα (Greece) India Italia 日本 (Japan) 한국 (Korea) Quebec. Feb 17, 2015 6:00 am ET MARISA WEISS: Social isolation can be lethal. You hate coming home after work and probably actively avoid your home as much as you can. The Dangers of Living Alone July 18, 2010 Posted by Onely in Bad Onely Activities. Danish researchers began studying 3,346 men, average age 63, in 1985, tracking their health for 32 years. “It’s paradoxical that the more we live in concentrated populations in big cities, the more people are living alone” said the lead author, Dr. Magnus T. Jensen, a researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital. This indicates that the real danger of living alone is not feeling lonely per se, but having reduced contact with others. When seniors live alone, they are much more likely to become lonely, disinterested in normal day-to-day activities, and depressed. The dangers of elderly living alone aren’t always visible on the physical level. The group, led by Andrew Steptoe, examined data on the 6,500 older adults (aged 52 and up) who took part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in 2004, and monitored which participants survived up until last March. 61 Awesome Benefits Of Living Alone. Tags: awkward moments with contractors, living alone trackback. Terms of Use Nope. U.S. I'm retired now, and I thought I might feel lonely when I left work. 13 Medication Safety Tips That Can Save Your Life; Dangerous Medications For Seniors, Are Yours On The List? I am not a hermit (I live in a busy city and live around people) and I am friendly with my neighbors and have friends, but I don't NEED to be social. Not for an instant. In total, 14.1 percent of the people who’d participated in the survey had died in the 8 years after the study was administered, but those who were classified as socially isolated had died at considerably higher rates. If you’re at home by yourself, here are nine dangers of seniors living alone: 1. Most of the people enjoy being alone, but not most of the time. Risk of Falling: In the past few years, several studies have linked living alone with a substantial increase in the risk of falling. It depends on lots of things, whether you are social or antisocial, whether it is by choice or not, whether you are comfortable with your own company or not etc etc. California Do Not Sell My Info Living alone can be tricky financially, you have to cover all rent or mortgage, bills, food and other expenses by yourself. The most common include the death of a spouse or partner, separation from a partner, or simply that a person has lived alone for most of their adult life and would prefer to continue doing so. Here are some of them: The Dangers of College Females Living Alone Lifestyle problems. A recent study concludes that living alone is strongly linked to poorer mental health. By Kyli Singh. 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