Are lolo and lola okay? Expert shares tips on how seniors can avoid loneliness

Spending long hours at home amid the pandemic can take a toll on our mental health.

During a segment of “Hirit ni Mareng Winnie,” clinical psychologist Dr. Camille Garcia explained how older members of our household were at increased risk of loneliness so we should always do our best to help them.

“Alam niyo ’pag sinasabi natin na ’pag tumatanda tayo, we feel na parang nag-iisa na lang tayo and while we feel so alone?” the health expert said.

“Parang nagkakaroon ng emptiness, and ’pag nagkaroon kayo ng ganung feeling, definitely nag-uumpisa na ’yung sinasabi nating loneliness,” she added.

So what can our lolos and lolas do to avoid feeling lonely?

According to Garcia, it’s important for senior citizens to have what you call a “primary support group.” They can be friends, family or even your local walking group.

Seniors can also try new activities that interest them. Getting into plants or joining a dance group are great examples.

Garcia also shared possible physical manifestations of loneliness among senior citizens to watch out for.

These include even the most casual-seeming concerns among older adults like body pain or fatigue.

“Sometimes, sasabihin niya, kahit alam niyo na super healthy ’to, biglang sasabihin niya, ‘I have palpitations; I have [difficulty in] breathing; sometimes, I feel parang palaging pagod.’ May chronic fatigue,” Garcia said.

“Tapos, nagkakaroon ng numbness sa mga extremities from the legs, sa mga kamay, back pain, headaches, eating less or eating too much, sleeping too much, nage-exercise ng sobra-sobra or walang exercise, are already possible signs na there is a mental issue going on,” she added.

To learn more about loneliness among seniors, watch the full “Hirit ni Mareng Winnie” segment on “Unang Hirit.” – Margaret Claire Layug/RC, GMA News