There are plenty of things to be concerned about when a loved one requires elder care. You’re worried about their health, you’re concerned with their outlook on life and their stress level, and you worry about the future. Did they plan ahead for this type of contingency? Will they be able to have the right medical care?
And the list goes on and on.
What about when the elderly patient isolates himself from others? Should that be a great concern to you, or should your primary focus be on getting him the right type of medical care?
Isolation can be caused by any number of issues, from feeling as though you can’t take part in the things that others can still do and not wanting to be reminded of your limitations to depression.
When someone is depressed, they may have a tendency to hide away from others. This is often because they feel either unworthy or so sad and down that they just don’t want to be bothered talking to anyone else. For elderly individuals, when they are confronted with a number of health issues, it can lead to depression. Even if they have plenty of friends in the area, they may stop calling them, answering the phone, or going to the activities that they used to enjoy.
When a patient isolated himself from others, it’s usually a cry for help. However, if the individual has a history of being alone and isolated, then this might not be out of the ordinary. That doesn’t make it healthy or the right thing for them to do, though.
Talk to the elderly individual and find out why he or she has decided to separate himself from others. You may not get an answer. They may just shrug or say that they don’t feel like being around anyone right now. For a few days, this might be okay, especially if they have just received tough news, such as a diagnosis that focuses on their own mortality.
Give them their space, but begin looking into home care for the elderly as this might be just what they need to get out and into their life again. If you feel that the senior has isolated himself and refuses to even speak to anyone, even you, then it may be time to talk to a professional, such as a counselor, to try and help them step out into the world, into their life, once again.
Elder care, including counseling, can certainly help when it comes to isolation.
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