According to research from the University of Bedfordshire, more than 80% of adults who have mental health problems in nursing homes struggle with loneliness. This shows that it’s more important than ever to make a difference and help people feel empowered by their community and the connections in their lives. Let’s look at why loneliness is so prevalent in care settings and what can be done to make a difference.
Why is Loneliness Common in Care Settings?
Being Away from Usual Connections
Moving into a care home where they don’t know anyone can be intimidating, especially if they’re introverted or struggle with social interaction. If they have physical limitations, this can often make it tricky to travel to see loved ones and participate in care home activities.
An Unfamiliar Environment
Going from living at home in a place full of familiar features to a care home can sometimes take some time to get used to. Many elderly people have lived in their homes for decades, and being surrounded by different coloured walls and new furnishings can be a strange feeling. This unfamiliarity can lead to a loss of identity, which can cause people to isolate themselves.
If needs allow, some people decide to stay at home and opt for home-care or live-in care. It makes it so they can stay in their own comfortable environment and still be able to keep their usual routine. Another positive is that people are still able to keep their pets, which has long been proven to be great for our mental health.
Care Staff Are Busy
Conversations with care staff can be exciting and stimulating, but nurses or carers often have other priorities. According to a survey from The Royal College of Nursing, between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of nursing staff reporting they’re too busy to deliver the level of care they’d like to went up from 56% to 65.9%. Understaffing and being overworked mean they don’t have as much time to offer their emotional support to care home residents.
How Can We Minimise Loneliness in Care Homes?
Create an Inviting and Inclusive Environment
People need to feel included and like they can get involved in social interaction. Well-lit communal areas with comfortable furniture can encourage residents to come out of their rooms and interact with others living in the home. Having an outdoor space also allows people to get fresh air and enjoy being around greenery whilst socialising with others.
Care home activities that everyone can participate in and adapting them where possible, helps everyone feel part of a community. For example, if you’re doing a gardening activity, using raised beds for people in wheelchairs or for those who struggle to bend is a big help.
Involve Families as Much as Possible
A great place to start is to make sure residents have access to technology so they can video call their loved ones. Another way to get families involved is to include them in care home activities, such as having a film night where everyone can bring their relatives. As well as family, getting involved with other groups in the community is an excellent idea. You could invite the choir from a local school to come in and do a performance, or do a collaborative project with a nearby community centre.
Make Sure Residents Know How to Access Helpful Resources
Mental health help, such as counselling or therapy, is available in many care homes, and residents need to be aware of how to access it. They also need to be aware of helpful external resources which are out there. Here are some examples;
- Hey Mind – We provide mental health support in Hull and the East Riding. You could join our free creative wellbeing group, where you can meet others and express yourself through creativity.
- Befriending Network – This organisation can be used to find a befriending service with a choice of face-to-face, telephone, group or online befriending.
Final Thoughts
When just small changes are made in care settings, they lead to substantial differences. To effectively prevent loneliness, we have to work as a team and a community to make an impact. No one deserves to feel left about or forgotten when they get older.
If you have any questions about how we can support you here at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, please reach out to our email: [email protected]. For more urgent support, please check out our crisis page: heymind.org.uk/help/crisis-support/
