#SupportingOurElders

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Anxiety Among Adult Children Living Away: The Growing Loneliness and Social Isolation of Seniors

In today’s globalised world, many adult children find themselves living away from their parents. This distance can be both geographical and emotional, driven by career demands, personal responsibilities, and life’s ever-changing circumstances. While adult children may feel anxious about their parents’ well-being, seniors who live alone often experience deeper issues like loneliness and socialisolation.

The Scope of Senior Loneliness

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) indicates that approximately one in four adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. These numbers can be even higher among those who do not openly discuss or report their feelings of loneliness.

The 2024 NITI Aayog Official report, Senior Care in India: Reimagining the Senior Care Paradigm, delivers a stark warning: India’s current structures are struggling to meet the needs of its aging population, undermining the very foundations of healthcare and community support. According to a 2022 study by HelpAge India , over 60% of seniors experience loneliness and depression. As someone living abroad with my wife, far from our parents, these statistics are deeply unsettling. Read more..