Stop Loneliness from Ruling the Day
Can you cure deep-down, black, bottom-of-the-well, no-hope, end-of-the-world, what's-the-use loneliness? That's a question Peanut's Charlie Brown once asked Lucy. Lucy’s cavalier response was that she could cure anything for a nickel. It feels like the whole world, especially older adults living alone or in long-term care settings, could use Lucy’s nickel right about now. This pandemic, also known as COVID-19, is fueling loneliness in epidemic proportions. Visitation restrictions in healthcare settings and the need to continue practicing social distancing have many of us feeling isolated. Feeling disconnected from the people we count on creates stress which can result in sleeplessness, depression, higher blood pressure, inflammation, weakened immunity, and a long list of other detriments . Visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about the health risks associated with social isolation and loneli...