Sergeant suffering of the seniors: loneliness in the Var increased

Sergeant suffering of the seniors: loneliness in the Var increased

Summer is a time of joy for many: sun, beach and sociable evenings outdoors. But not everyone can join the enjoyment of the beautiful weather. In France, over two million seniors are affected by social isolation. This is reinforced by seasonal changes, especially during the summer month of August, when many services and shops close or personnel go on vacation. This not only complicates the everyday activities of the elderly, but also reduces the number of social interactions that are crucial for their well -being.

Especially in the VAR department, where more than a third of the population is over 60 years old, the problem is alarming. The high temperatures in summer can make leaving the house a challenge for many seniors. Fewer ways to snap fresh air mean that they retreat even further.

The challenges of summer

Romain Gizolme, director of the "Association of Directors for Services for Older People" (AD-PA), emphasizes that there is a "double aspect" that strengthens the isolation of older people in summer. On the one hand, family structures tend to become smaller, and many younger family members work and travel, which they remove from the older relatives. Another reason is the reduced availability of auxiliary services during the summer months when employees go on vacation.

Gizolme explains that the most affected people are often the ones who live in their own apartments. While retirement homes can often bundle resources, there is a different picture for people who live at home. The director of a service for domestic help confirmed that there are not enough forces due to lack of staff to compensate for the absences in summer.

The isolation also exacerates the challenges with which thieves are faced with seniors, especially if they are in financial difficulties. Less social contacts often lead to a feeling of vulnerability. The district of VAR has found that isolation is an essential factor for the general fragility in old age, which creates fatal feedback loop.

social responsibility and support

Géraldine Gerfaud, responsible for social services to support and coordinate older people, indicates that their organization continuously pays attention to the needs of lonely seniors. This applies in particular to those who are entitled to personal autonomy allowance (APA). The social workers in this region have increased vigilance in summer to work with other partners and social networks that are active in the households.

The responsible authorities can also use a register to identify isolated seniors and to look after them closely during the summer months. Municipal services have the opportunity to use this comment to regularly contact vulnerable people and offer support.

Nevertheless, Romain Gizolme expresses strong concerns about this problem with regard to social attention. In his opinion, there is a lack of awareness and resources to sustainably promote social networking of the older generation. "Social contact is neither recognized nor financially supported," he criticizes. He calls for a fundamental realignment of the political measures for this endangered population group. In view of the high mortality rate on hot summer days, measures should be taken that protect both older people and toddlers.

In a time when we are increasingly taking care of the well -being of the weaker, we can hope that we will be more aware of the challenges with which many older people are confronted. The value of social contact and social support cannot be assessed highly enough, and it is due to society to become active here.

background information on the subject of age insulation

The challenges that older people stand in France are deeply rooted in social and economic contexts. The demographic development shows that the population ages - in 2020 around 20% of the total population in France was 65 or older, and this proportion is expected to continue to increase. This growing group is increasingly faced with questions of loneliness and isolation, especially in rural areas, where the accessibility of services and social institutions is limited. The Covid 19 pandemic has tightened this problem: According to a study by the "Fondation de France" from 2021, 45% of the over 70s felt isolated during the Lockdown.

There is special attention to the financial aspects that often influence the accessibility of support services. Older people with low incomes are often dependent on government support, but they are not always sufficient to meet all needs. The Allocation Personnalisée d’Autonomie (APA) represents an important part of this support, but is often bound to bureaucratic hurdles.

Current statistics and data on age insulation

According to the Baromètre des Pauvre's petite, which conducts a survey for the social isolation of older people in France annually, around 22% of the over 60s have given to feel lonely in the summer. The fact that 25% of the respondents are particularly alarming is to see no familiar faces in their neighborhood. This isolation can have serious health effects and increase the risk of mental illnesses such as depression.

Another important aspect is the health risks associated with social isolation. WHO research has shown that social isolation is correlated with a 50% increased risk of morbidity and mortality in older people. The connection between loneliness and health problems such as cardiovascular diseases and dementia is well documented.

strategies to combat loneliness and isolation

In order to counteract the growing isolation of older people, various initiatives and programs were launched. In many cities in France there are neighborhood projects that aim to promote contact between generations. These programs usually contain regular visits by voluntary and organized events that aim to integrate older people into social life.

However, the implementation of these programs often depends on the financing and coordination between different social services. In some regions there are already successfully implemented models that could serve as role models. The “Ville Amie des Ainés” program, for example, is committed to making cities more age-friendly by integrating the needs of older citizens into planning and design.

The commitment of citizens and local authorities remains crucial to create networked communities that support the elderly and reduce the risk of loneliness.