Downsizing and/or Relocating: Effects on Health
As we look around our living environs, we notice that it may be time to eliminate “stuff” and/or move to a location that accommodates our health status. The status of our emotional, mental, physical, and social health may be affected by the move(s) we make. Downsizing from a large home to a smaller one is a fact of life for many older adults. Reasons to downsize/relocate may be health (especially physical), financial, a desire to simplify lifestyle or to be closer to family members or social settings. Many are forced to downsize because their current homes are no longer suitable for their needs - too much clutter, poor lighting, stairs, or a layout that does not suit people with limited mobility. In our age group, not many homes were constructed with aging in mind.
The major effects of moves on health seem to be feelings of anxiety, grief, and sadness. People who find themselves unexpectedly alone due to the death of a spouse or partner, separation from friends or family, retirement, loss of mobility, and lack of transportation are at particular risk. “Losing a sense of connection and community changes a person’s perception of the world. Someone experiencing chronic loneliness feels threatened and mistrustful of others, which activates a biological defense mechanism.”
Several questions to ask when contemplating a move or when a move is necessitated relate to social health. These questions include: Will I become socially isolated? Will I become physically isolated because of lack of transportation? Will I be lonely? Will friends come to visit? Will I be able to easily use my own or public transportation to visit friends or attend and participate in community events. Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.
“Social isolation is the objective physical separation from other people (living alone), while loneliness is the subjective distressed feeling of being alone or separated.” Some of us feel lonely when around others. Some of us do not. People who engage in meaningful, productive activities with others tend to live longer, boost their mood, and have a sense of purpose. These activities seem to help maintain their well-being and may improve their cognitive function. Research supported by the National Institute on Aging shows that having a sense of mission and purpose in life is linked to healthier immune cells. Helping others through caregiving or volunteering helps people feel less lonely. “Working for a social cause or purpose with others who share your values and are trusted partners puts you in contact with others and helps develop a greater sense of community.”
Consider this thoughtful comment by Joan Chittisher (The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully)
“We have learned that the things we amassed to prove to ourselves how valuable, how important, how successful we were, didn’t prove it all. …It’s what’s inside of us, not what’s outside that counts.”
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