Feeling lonely is the pain of feeling apart from friends and family. Loneliness is not just about being alone. You can be with people and still feel lonely and left out. You can also be by yourself and not feel lonely.
Feeling lonely can be a problem when you are older. You may not have the same support of friends and family that you used to have. Your friends and family may have died or moved away. You may no longer have a job outside the home. You may not be used to living alone.
If you feel lonely, you may be depressed and anxious. You may not eat right or get enough exercise. But there are things you can do about feeling lonely.
You can decide when you want company. Your local Area Agency on Aging or senior center can help. Call them to find out about:
Ask about getting a ride to the senior center if you need it.
Maybe you miss doing things for other people. You can ask about ways you might volunteer at places like
You may like to have a pet to keep you company.
You may even want to think about moving to a senior community. Some benefits are:
Take your time thinking about where you'd like to live. Think about what is important to you, such as:
Finding ways to overcome your loneliness can make a change for the better. You can make it happen.
