Dangers of Staying Home Alone as a Senior

Aging in place is a goal most seniors fully embrace. And no wonder. Staying in a home you love and maintaining a sense of independence is incredibly important to them. But the desire to remain at home, especially living alone, has to be balanced with the realities and pitfalls of what that decision might mean.

1. Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death for seniors

When you’re young, it’s easy to regain your footing and balance if you trip on something. When you’re older, that’s not the case. As people age, maintaining a sense of balance becomes challenging: reaction times get slower, and bones become more brittle.

All of these factors create a high risk of falling and injury. The fact is a third of all seniors living in the United States fall every year. Around half of the falls that send seniors to the hospital happen at home. Some seniors living at home alone wear medic alert devices to call for help if they fall, but many don’t for various reasons. Falling and injuring yourself is bad enough, but being unable to get up to call for help can mean hours of pain that could be avoided if the senior was not living alone and assistance was close by.

2. Malnutrition is a real concern

Food is both a comfort and a necessity. Unfortunately, older loved ones living alone often find making dinner is more work than they can handle. For instance, instead of eating a well-balanced meal, they may just snack on odds and ends they have in the pantry or refrigerator. In addition, many seniors take medications that come with dietary restrictions that further limit what they can eat. In many cases, those factors combine to make eating a regular meal a serious challenge which can result in a loved one living alone simply choosing to skip meals. Over time, it can lead to debilitating malnutrition.

3. Accidental prescription mishaps can harm seniors’ health

Most seniors take a variety of medications to manage chronic medical conditions. And while taking those medications as prescribed can help them live longer healthier lives, seniors living alone may forget to take them, or may take too much or too little, which can lead to serious health consequences.

4. Isolation can cause mental health problems

People enjoy spending time with others they love and care about, not to mention, they get mental and health benefits from it. And while most families try to visit older loved ones as much as possible, other obligations often get in the way. The resulting isolation can result in depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can be as bad for a senior’s health as obesity or an extreme smoking habit.

While living alone can be empowering, the benefits can diminish over time. If you notice the situation isn’t working as well as it used to, know there are senior living options that will help keep your senior safe, well-nourished, will provide them their proper medication, and will encourage them to be socially active. Eliminating the dangers of staying home alone as a senior is easier than you think.

MorningStar Senior Living

If your loved one lives far from family and friends, it could be time to move into a senior living community near their adult children where they’ll have the companionship of fellow seniors and a compassionate service team. At MorningStar Senior Living, a 24/7 team is dedicated to offering care and hospitality services that meet each resident’s social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.