JACKSON. The feeling of social exclusion has increased in all categories of the population as a result of the pandemic, and this phenomenon is more pronounced among older people. Hattiesburg, Mississippi resident Sandra Barnes knows the feeling well. However, her mood changed after she moved into the Wesley Manor pension complex. “The experience changed my life. “When I got there, I was in really bad shape,” says Barnes. a short time later, Barnes was diagnosed with a chronic illness.

“My health was not good. I was recovering from a pulmonary embolism. I had surgery and it all took a toll on me,” he says today. Despite her insistence on continuing to live alone, Barnes eventually gave in to her daughter’s entreaties to visit the community of Wesley Manors on a trial basis. “After I got used to it, I started to go out and do what we were offered. This prompted me to get out and go. I think it helped me make friends and socialize,” says Barnes.

social contact

Nursing home manager Sarah Dickinson explains that social contact between older people plays an important role in maintaining their physical, emotional and mental health. “We have a lot of residents who are here not because they need help with their daily lives, but because they need human contacts and social relationships. “Most people have recently lost a partner or their children have left home and need company,” says Dickinson. Barnes explains that moving into the seniors community was the right decision, as her day was filled with activities and company. According to the US Federal Health Service, social isolation of people over 50 years of age increases the risk of developing dementia by 50%, the risk of heart disease by 29% and the risk of stroke by 32%.

Loneliness in the elderly is associated with higher rates of clinical depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Vulnerable older people, such as immigrants, gay people, minorities, and victims of abuse, are at particular risk for the effects of loneliness, according to the CDC.