LONELINESS

Loneliness affects so many people from all walks of life, but especially the elderly.
Today I visited one of my elderly friends who is in her eighties, she has been admitted to a nursing home for two weeks respite care, as she was not coping at home. She has become slightly confused, and forgot that she had had several visitors that day, but then on being reminded, remembered. I knew that she had been visited earlier, as the carer who showed me up to her room, informed me that several people had already been in that day.

I took my dog with me to visit her, as it is a dog friendly home, and my friend was not only thrilled to see me, but also to see the dog.

 Dog therapy is encouraged in many places, and was also actively encouraged at the Lady Cilento children's hospital in Brisbane where I worked as an agency nurse on several occasions. The elderly and children delight in relating to animals, especially if they are warm and cuddly! It makes the clinical setting less threatening, and more "normalised" and friendly.

Well, dog therapy definitely worked with my friend today, and she responded with delight and chatted away to my dog whilst I was in the loo. Companionship is something that is missed hugely by those who have been married for years, to be left suddenly alone after the death of their partner is something that many of them have not really had time to prepare for.  My elderly friend Lilly was quite distressed to be shut away in a room, with just the four walls to talk to, as the TV was not working, and she only had a limited amount of reading material. She said she was still able to read alright, but, again, this pleasure is denied to many due to failing eyesight or the ability to concentrate well enough to absorb what is on the written page.

Just having someone different from the nursing or carer staff to talk to, someone in touch with the "outside" world, helps to remind them that they are not cut off, and helps them to stay grounded, plus giving them a fresh view from the grey/white walls crowding in on them. It can be a bleak aspect to someone who has led and active and full life, to have their horizons so horribly narrowed and restricted. Talking of external things helps them to expand their horizons, albeit temporarily, and gives them a feeling of connection with others outside of their confining walls!

It is a small sacrifice on your part, to give half an hour to someone stuck in a situation like that, and helps to brighten their day. It may mean the world to them, and will be remembered long after you have left and gone back to your busy world!

Take time out to visit a loved one, a friend or someone who is lonely. You will be making a bigger difference than you may realise!

Have a great day!