At LBFE Chicago, our mission is to relieve isolation and loneliness among older adults. “Isolation” and “loneliness” can mean different things to different people, so we’ve found it helpful to define those terms. Here’s what they mean at LBFE Chicago, and how we address them.
What is loneliness?
“Loneliness is subjective, it’s the feeling that you do not have meaningful connections to others,” LBFE Chicago Director of Program Heather Dudzinski explains. “It is how you feel when you want more personal connections than you have.”
Spending a lot of time alone or living alone do not necessarily mean a person is lonely, if they are having their desired level of social engagements (even if that desired level is none!).
Whether or not someone’s loneliness can be relieved is largely dependent on if they are intrinsically or extrinsically lonely. “For some folks,” says Dudzinski, “their loneliness comes from inside. Regardless of their level of isolation, they will not feel less lonely. They could go to a party every day, and still feel lonely. This kind of loneliness is largely beyond LBFE’s programming.”
But for many older adults, their loneliness is extrinsic- due to their external circumstances. They are isolated, but emotionally capable of maintaining relationships. For them, LBFE’s programs can make an incredible difference.
What is social isolation?
Social isolation describes a person’s level of integration into the wider social environment. Many older adults become socially isolated to some degree. They may leave the workforce, and suddenly lack the daily routine interactions with their co-workers, the bus driver, the people on the bus. Family members may live far away or be out of touch. They may lose friends and family members as time goes on, shrinking their social circle. Loss of mobility, changes in their neighborhoods, or changes in their health may make leaving home more difficult than it once was. All of these factors and more can lead to an older adult living a socially isolated life.
How we help
LBFE addresses social isolation to relieve loneliness and meet older adults in friendship. When older adults join us at LBFE, they’re connecting to a network of peers, staff, and volunteers with whom they can form meaningful relationships. They re-connect to the wider social environment, and have more social engagements—parties, visits, activities, trips, and more. They have people to talk to, and events on their calendars, getting them closer to their desired amount of social engagement and reducing their loneliness. LBFE’s goal is that within six months of joining LBFE, older adults will have the opportunity to build relationships with trusted confidants.
You can help
If you (or someone you know!) are 70 and older and could benefit from LBFE’s programs, here is a link to find out more: https://lbfechicago.org/programs/refer-a-senior/
Perhaps you’d like to make a difference to older adults? Volunteering at LBFE Chicago can take many forms. From five hours a year to an ongoing twice-a-month commitment, there are flexible and fun opportunities to make new friends and relieve the isolation and loneliness of older adults in your community. Here’s a link where you can get started: https://lbfechicago.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer/