Empowering Seniors.
Fulfilling Lost Destinies.
WHY WE SERVE
"There is a great need to support
our aging adults."
According to U.S. census data, approximately one in 11 people age 50 and older do not have a spouse, partner, nor a living child. That means around eight million seniors do not have a close loved one, who would typically be a primary source of care and companionship for an older person.
This number is expected to increase as the Baby Boomers grow older. Unlike their parents before them, Baby Boomers typically had fewer children, and their marriages ended in divorce at a far greater rate than earlier generations. In fact, according to census data, more than a quarter of Baby Boomers are either divorced or were never married. As a result, roughly one in six Boomers now lives alone.
(The Loneliest Generation: Americans, More Than Ever, Are Aging Alone)
Loneliness & Health
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the effects of loneliness are many and profound. The impact of loneliness on mortality is like that of smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Loneliness may also increase the risks of serious health conditions such as dementia (by 50%), stroke (by 32%) heart disease (by 29%), mental health disorders (by 26%) and premature mortality (by 26%), according to the
Health Resources and Services Administration.
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The mental health effects of loneliness may include sleep problems, anxiety and other issues. University of California San Francisco’s research also found that lonely seniors were 59% more likely to find daily tasks such as climbing stairs or walking more difficult.
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Mental Health Effects:
Depression
Anxiety
Increased stress
Sleep problems
Low self-esteem
Physical health effects
Dementia
Stroke
Heart disease
Premature mortality
Weakened Immune System