WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 - SOCIAL ISOLATION

 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 - SOCIAL ISOLATION

Social Isolation

We’ve been through a period of social isolation due to COVID - and COVID isn’t over, MonkeyPox is on the increase - more reasons to be socially isolated.

I know many elderly who live alone and are definitely socially isolated.  I have mentioned two of my friends that I drive to appointments.  Last week, I took each of them (separately) out to eat and to do some shopping.  

From: Social Isolation, Loneliness Increase Risk of Fatal Heart Attacks and Strokes | Everyday Health

“People who are socially isolated or feel lonely are about 30 percent more likely to experience or die from heart attacks and strokes, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

“Over four decades of research has clearly demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are both associated with adverse health outcomes,” Crystal Wiley Cené, MD, MPH, lead author of the scientific statement, said in a statement.

“Given the prevalence of social disconnectedness across the U.S., the public health impact is quite significant,” Dr. Cené said.

“The very young and very old may be particularly vulnerable, the AHA notes in its scientific statement.

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Let’s think about this isolation.  

College Students - students are going back to campus (or going to campus for the first time) this month.  There are some introverted students who won’t go to social events or get involved with others.  They will sit in their dorm rooms and be isolated.  

Professors and dorm RA (resident advisors) need to help these students get integrated.  

Aside, my daughter had decided her major and her campus in her junior year of high school.  We moved her into her residence hall after a picnic lunch for the new students and parents.  As we got ready to leave, she sobbed.  For the first month, she demanded that we come and get her.  We put our feet down and said she needed to finish the semester.  Now, some thirty years later I still don’t understand.  She transferred to a different university, changed her major, and got involved with campus.  She could have done that at her first institution - but didn’t.

Osama Bin Laden studied in the United States for a period of time.  Somehow that period of his life affected him in a negative sense.  My guess is that no professor befriended him, and no students (other than like-minded Muslim students) even knew he existed.  He may have isolated himself from the “infidels” (aka - Americans).

Seniors - I know some seniors who barely left their houses during the COVID pandemic.  It was easy to isolate.  Grocery stores delivered food to their doors.  

Television is not a companion.  Eating alone is not social.

We used to say “He (or she) died of a broken heart”.  The research says that “People who are socially isolated or feel lonely are about 30 percent more likely to experience or die from heart attacks and strokes, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.  That seems like people are dying from a broken heart.  

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SO …

What can you do?  Do you have students in your family going off to school?  Send them a goody package.  Call them, text them, and be positive in your notes.  

Maybe it is others that you don’t know.  Is there a local university? See if you can “adopt” a student for a year.  If they are international students, invite them for Thanksgiving and other holidays.  

One of my campuses had an international food event and I made it a priority to get there - not only for the interesting food but also to support the international students.  Other groups had fundraisers and I bought raffle tickets and other trinkets (without expecting to win), but as a way of supporting and encouraging the students to get out.

Likewise, do you know seniors who are sitting alone and isolated?  Befriend them!!!

LOVE WINS - and by showing appreciation you are showing love!!!

I can remember being isolated on my first job - away from home in my own apartment.  I had to make sure I keep getting out and doing things and making friends.

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LOVE WINS

Karen White ©

August 17, 2022