The loneliness hits all agesbut primarily seniors. NConnecting with others helps you stay in good physical and mental shape.
This was the subject of a meeting organized at the social center of Marseille-en-Beauvaisis, for retirees.
“Loneliness is twice as dangerous as obesity”. Murmurs in the room, where, this Tuesday afternoon, around fifty seniors are participating in a meeting on social bonds. Meeting hosted by AGIRC-ARCCO (supplementary pension organization) and Brain’Up, “Prevention health” partner.
“Even in family, others don’t hear us”
Ophélie Morel, neuropsychologist, therefore insists on the importance of maintaining this link at all ages. The young woman asks: “How many of you meet more than 20 people a week?”. A few hands go up. They are a little more likely to get agitated when it comes to meeting 8 to 10 people. But the majority of the audience admits to 1 to 10 weekly contacts. Social interactions exist thanks to activities (especially at the social center, etc.). Have a conversation lasting more than 15 minutes and the resulting benefit? : “It depends on the person and the subject”. Two retirees say they don’t speak to anyone during the week without feeling missed.
However, the observation is clear: the life expectancy of isolated people is shorter than the average.
Loneliness even in the middle of a group
The discussion expands when the practitioner points out that we can feel isolated within a group. A retiree confirms: “Even in family, others are not interested in us, do not hear us because we are elderlys.”
By inviting Agirc Arcco and Brain’Up, Anne-Sophie Baelde, permanent member of the Social Center, wanted an interactive meeting. “The organization invites its members residing in the area via a personalized letter, we manage the registrations and we also communicate with our users and partners.”
“This operation allows new people to come to the Social Center. The choice of the subject “Social Link Vital Link” is a continuation of our January mobilization against solitudes. At the end of the intervention we highlighted our actions in favor of social bonds including collective actions and the MONALISA home visit system for isolated elderly people; We are also looking for volunteers.”
The results of the afternoon are mixed. “We had great new encounters and great participation, an awareness that isolation creeps in slowly, insidiously, and that we all have a role to play.”
Nevertheless, Anne-Sophie Baelde would have liked to mobilize more partners to make this event a “real forum”.
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