With a strained relationship with his son and no friends to check on him, he feels isolated and lonely. So we seldom communicate. I want to keep myself from being bored at home. I just walk around by myself. Although his loneliness diminished, not every older adult has access to, or the ability to seek, similar help. By , one in four Singaporeans will be over the age of For many who are older, this can result in a deep loneliness that quietly consumes their days.
This is not a future problem β it is a present crisis, taking a heavy toll on the mental and physical health of the elderly.
Loneliness elevates the risk of premature death to levels comparable with smoking, obesity and physical inactivity, US studies have found. Prolonged social isolation is linked to heart disease, obesity, depression, anxiety and even suicide.
For older adults, loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 50 per cent and stroke by 32 per cent. The Singapore Government is making mental health and well-being a key priority. In February , then Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted plans to increase the number of public sector psychologists and psychiatrists by 30 and 40 per cent by Mental health services will also be introduced at polyclinics and GP clinics, with 28, front-line workers and volunteers trained for early support.
However, filling these roles can be difficult. Mental health work requires specialised skills. Recruiting and training enough qualified professionals takes time. The work can be emotionally taxing, leading to burnout, which makes it difficult to retain workers. What is needed here is a supportive tool that complements the work of professionals. Studies have found that AI companions β digital interaction partners like chatbots and robots β show promise in helping to address senior isolation.
