Lighthouse February 2025 Lunch and Learn
Our Lunch and Learn was held at the Lighthouse reception hall on February 11. We all enjoyed good fellowship, a light lunch, and lots of delicious chocolate.
The following topic of Loneliness was covered and helped to increase awareness of the effects of Loneliness in our Amarillo Community. Read on to learn more about the highlights and details.
Loneliness Isn't Just Bad for Your Health—It's Deadly
For more than 30% of adults in the US living alone, it is an everyday reality that living alone is harmful to our health and even can cause death.
The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is hoping to generate a greater awareness of the lonely and socially isolated in our country. "Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling," he told USA TODAY. "It turns out that loneliness has far greater implications for our health."
Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions. Many aging adults face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.
- Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.
- 29% increased risk of heart disease.
- 32% increased risk of stroke.
- Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
- Loneliness with heart patients was associated with nearly 4 times increased risk of death.
The Solution: Social Connectedness
If you're feeling lonely, you're not alone. Experts say recognition and awareness are important first steps to escaping loneliness. There are a lot of people struggling with loneliness and it doesn't mean that you're broken.
On an individual level, there are things that people can practice that could prevent them from feeling lonely. Dr. Murthy suggests taking 15 minutes a day to reach out to someone, looking for ways to serve others, and putting devices away.
Our guest speaker Sharon Hayes, of the GriefShare program and affiliated with Arena of Life Church in Amarillo, did a wonderful presentation. As an instructor, Sharon meets weekly with a group of widows and widowers, and others, who are struggling with loneliness and grief. She shared a number of points that the program addresses — for example, Is This Normal, Fearful & Overwhelmed, Anger, Questions, and Hope & Resilience.
Our meeting topic of Loneliness highlighted an important aspect that we should all be more aware of in our community, social groups, and neighborhoods, and gave us good references for help.
