There are many reasons why a person might be living alone in their later years. 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. Independence is important, but so is making sure that you’re aware of the possible risks involved with living alone in your later years. These needn’t require big lifestyle changes from you, or expensive modifications to your living space. Rather, a little awareness of the various risks and how you can limit them is the best approach to helping you live more enjoyably on your own well into your twilight years. Here we look at the biggest risks facing seniors who live alone, and what steps you can take to either avoid or temper them.
1. Increased risk of medical emergencies
Again, we are all at risk of becoming ill or falling over and injuring ourselves on a daily basis, but research (opens in new tab) tells us that the risk of falling and experiencing injury increases in our older years. It says that falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to emergency departments in America, and they are the primary etiology of accidental deaths in persons age 65 years and over. While prevention is key to ensuring your mobility remains good - consider using one of the best fitness trackers (opens in new tab) to motivate you to stay active - there may be other factors increasing your risk of falling at home. This could include poor eyesight, various health conditions, or even living in a home laden with trip hazards. In addition, your chances of having to take a prescription medication increases with age, so it’s important to get organized with your medicine to ensure you avoid any accidental overdoses. A pill box, marked with each day of the week, is a good idea as you can organize your pills by each week day. If you have ongoing medication costs, take a look at our guide to the best Medicare Part D plans (opens in new tab) to see how they could help. What you can do: If you live alone, using one of the best medical alert systems (opens in new tab) could create greater peace of mind for you and your family. If you fall or have a medical emergency, a medical alert system enables you to quickly access the help you need. As with the best fall detection systems (opens in new tab), these devices use built-in sensors to get to know your daily routine and level of mobility. So if you become ill or fall in your home, the device will connect remotely to a base unit in your home, which then calls a 24/7 call centre staffed with medically trained staff who can get you the right help. These systems will also call your ‘In Case of Emergency’ contacts so that they know you need assistance. If poor eyesight is your biggest issue, book an eye exam and upgrade your eyewear so that can see properly again. You can even shop for these from home, taking your pick of the best eyeglasses online (opens in new tab) or the best contact lenses online (opens in new tab) if you prefer.
2. More likely to experience social isolation
A study of over 6,500 elderly people by the University College London (opens in new tab) suggests that social isolation significantly reduces your lifespan, posing both mental and physical health issues. The study suggests that social isolation doesn’t just effect mental health, it also increases your risk of heart disease, infectious illness, cognitive deterioration, and high blood pressure. It’s important to note that the study makes a distinction between social isolation and loneliness, though loneliness is a symptom of social isolation. If you’re not actively interacting with family, friends and your community in general, you might be socially isolated. What you can do: Arrange regular catch-ups with family and friends in person, as this will give you a bigger wellness boost than speaking to people via text, instant messaging, phone or email. Those are all effective ways of keeping in touch, but in person is best. If you don’t have many friends or family around you, consider volunteering somewhere in person, or joining a local club that’s of interest to you and your hobbies.
3. Increased risk of depression and anxiety
This isn’t exclusive to seniors living alone. All of us, regardless of age and living circumstances, are at risk of developing anxiety and depression at various stages of our lives. However, some people are more susceptible than others. According to research (opens in new tab), older adults living alone are more likely to experience depression than those who live with a spouse. It’s a similar story with anxiety, which presents itself in symptoms such as insomnia, heart palpitations and muscle tension. Anxiety could also be caused by feeling unsafe when living alone. What you can do: If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. They are trained to advise you on what treatments are available, and on how to manage anxiety (opens in new tab) in your daily life. Ensuring you have a good support network of trusted friends or neighbors nearby will also ease any anxiety you may be feeling over living alone. Sometimes, having someone who can regularly check in on you can make a big difference. Installing one of the best home security systems (opens in new tab) is another way to ensure your safety at home.
4. Less access to nutritious foods
According to a study (opens in new tab) published in the National Library of Medicine, elderly people who live alone are at a much higher risk for malnutrition, and that malnutrition can also be affected by social isolation and loneliness. The study compared the diets of seniors who lived alone compared to the diets of those who still lived in family environments. Researchers found that people who live alone are at increased risk of malnutrition because they often reduce the number of daily meals they eat, or they significantly lower their daily intake of protein, fruits and vegetables. Finances are often a major factor here, with large swathes of elderly Americans often living below the poverty line. What you can do: Eating well needn’t cost the earth, and with some careful budgeting and batch cooking you could make several meals out of a handful of fresh, nutritious and cheap ingredients. Take a look at our guide to healthy eating at home (opens in new tab) for a list of cheaper foods, that also last well, that are packed with nutrients. These have been recommended by a registered dietician. Proper nutrition plays an important role in helping you to live as well as you can for as long as possible, so if this is something you could potentially overhaul in your life, it’s a great change to make.
5. House chores prove more challenging
Regardless of how well we maintain our mobility, the truth is that certain physical tasks become more difficult as we get older. Various health conditions can often compound these, so throwing the vacuum cleaner around your home may not be as easy as it was ten years ago. Best light therapy lamps: Plus the top sun lamps for energy and mood Best eyeglasses online 2023: Shop glasses from the comfort of your home Best online fitness programs 2023: the virtual fitness classes you need to know about Best exercise bikes 2022: Top stationary bikes for cycling workouts at home Best handheld massagers 2023: Including the top percussion massagers Best contact lenses online 2023: Where to buy online contact lenses Best sunrise alarm clocks: Cheerful wake-up lights for all budgets Best bathroom scales 2022: Including the top smart scales Best glucose meters 2023: The top glucometers for blood sugar monitoring Best sound machines for sleep 2023: Plus the top white noise machines However, keeping your home clean and clutter free is important to your wellbeing when living alone. Firstly, by cleaning regularly you are killing any virus particles that may be collecting on various surfaces in your home. Secondly, by clearing away clutter you are removing any potential trip hazards. Not to mention that living in a clear and clutter-free environment will help you to feel much happier and more relaxed than a home filled with dirt and debris. What you can do: If you need a hand with certain chores, consider asking a trusted friend, family member or neighbor if they could help you with household work that you find physically taxing. For those of you who have the budget and enjoy using technology, using one of the best robot vacuums (opens in new tab) means that you won’t have to do any vacuuming yourself - your robot helper will handle it all on both hard floors and carpet. Learning how to clean a mattress (opens in new tab) properly can also help yours last longer, and could be as simple as vacuuming the surface of the mattress and letting it air without any bed sheets on for a few hours. Ultimately, while living alone in your elder years does present certain challenges and risks to your physical and mental health, with awareness and proactivity there is no reason why you can’t limit your exposure to them.
