Discussion: Pandemic's Impact on Elderly Isolation and Health

This discussion post explores the multifaceted impact of isolation on elderly individuals, considering both normal circumstances and the unique challenges posed by a pandemic. The author highlights the detrimental effects on mental, physical, and emotional health, including increased risks of obesity, high blood pressure, weakened immune systems, anxiety, heart disease, cognitive decline, depression, and even early death. The post draws a comparison between the author's personal experience of isolation and the experiences of isolated elders, emphasizing the importance of social connections and support. It references the work of Bill Thomas, MD, and his concept of the Eden Alternative, as well as the Pioneer Network's focus on person-centered care. The post concludes by suggesting strategies to mitigate the negative effects of isolation, such as utilizing social media and video conferencing to maintain connections and improve the well-being of elders.

Running Head: HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
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Health Administration
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Impact of isolation of elders under normal circumstances
In recent times, isolation not only impact elders but today’s generation as well. Elders
in to normal circumstances have an impact on their mental, physical and emotional health
(Valtorta & Hanratty, 2012). There isolation results in helplessness, loneliness and boredom
which leads to impact their health in relation to obesity, high blood pressure, weakened
immune system, anxiety, heart disease, cognitive decline, depression, early death and
Alzheimer’s disease (Stevenson, 2019).
Impact of elders under abnormal or pandemic circumstances
In the pandemic circumstances, there is a heavy socio-economic burden on elders that
have high-risks requiring necessary treatment and hospitalization which might leads to high
mortality at this time (Pietromarchi, 2020). Across the globe, there are various medical
conditions to deal with elders where they suffer from kind illness which requires mild clinical
courses having a frightening impact. This pandemic circumstances contains severe headache,
elevates and myalgias, coughing and other symptoms to elders as well. Some elders suffer
from prolonged exhaustion, tiredness and depression (Gasparini, Amicizia, Lai, & Panatto,
2012). They might also receive life-threatening complications development such as
pneumonia.
Comparison between the situation of self, and isolated and lonely elders
The situation of me being in isolation results in the concerning levels of loneliness
where I go through mental and emotional sickness. This state in terms of psychology shows
my lack of social connections with other individuals and family members along with an
impact of health concern such as obesity. There is no presence of stability along with being
restricted and not able to interact and communicate with other individuals due to facing
challenges of survival and well-being (Marsh, 2017). Mainly, it is the feeling of experiencing
loneliness which can be torturous and painful.
Elders face the situation of being lonely where they need people around them to talk
to; they deal with quality of poor sleep, depression, or anxiety which also leads to adverse
health consequences which might risk to early deaths as well. They require closeness with
their family members where it is essential for them to spend time with their loved ones and
share their feelings with them which provide emotional and mental support (Novotney,
2019). Their family members can help them feel less lonely and isolated by connecting them

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with others through social media sites and other technologies such as video conferencing.
These new ways will allow elders to feel less isolated which will improve their immunity
system and health and reduce the impact of negative mental, physical and emotional health.

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References
Gasparini, R., Amicizia, D., Lai, P., & Panatto, D. (2012). Clinical and socioeconomic impact
of seasonal and pandemic influenza in adults and the elderly. Human Vaccines &
Immunotherapeutics, 8(1), 21-28.
Marsh, S. (2017, April 8). Teenagers on loneliness: ‘We want to talk to our parents. We need
their guidance’. Retrieved from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/08/teenagers-loneliness-social-media-
isolation-parents-attention
Novotney, A. (2019). The risks of social isolation. American Psychological Association,
50(5), 32.
Pietromarchi, V. (2020, March 24). For some elderly Italians, loneliness brings more fear
than virus. Retrieved from Aljazeera:
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/chk-elderly-italians-loneliness-worse-
covid-19-fears-200323154948211.html
Stevenson, S. (2019, November 15). 20 Facts about Senior Isolation That Will Stun You.
Retrieved from aPlaceforMom: https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/10-17-14-facts-
about-senior-isolation/
Valtorta, N., & Hanratty, B. (2012). Loneliness, isolation and the health of older adults: do
we need a new research agenda? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 105(12),
518-522.