In your client meetings, you might hear comments like "I don't want to be a burden," or "I'm not sure what to do with my time." These are more than just passing remarks. They are often signals of a deeper feeling of disconnection that can have a profound impact on your client's health and financial wellbeing.
Loneliness is not simply about being alone; it is about feeling disconnected. For many older adults, this feeling can quietly take hold after losing a partner, retiring from work, or experiencing changes in mobility. What is often missed is just how dangerous chronic loneliness can be.
The Hidden Costs of Isolation
Research shows that chronic loneliness is as harmful to long-term health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It is shown to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and cognitive decline. From a practical financial standpoint, loneliness also drives up GP visits, medication use, and emergency hospital admissions.
The emotional wellbeing of your clients directly affects both their health and their finances. Loneliness may not appear on a balance sheet, but its impact on care needs and financial planning is undeniable.
What You Can Do
You do not need to be a mental health expert to make a difference. Simply by acknowledging the emotional side of ageing, you show clients that you see them as a person, not just a portfolio. Here is how you can add significant value:
- Recognise risk factors: Be aware of tipping points for social withdrawal, such as a recent bereavement, a house move, or stopping driving.
- Start gentle conversations: Ask clients how they are spending their time or what they wish they could do more of.
- Introduce simple solutions: Resources like Podplan include links to community walking groups, volunteering roles, and befriending schemes that can help clients reconnect and maintain a sense of purpose.
When you show clients you care about their emotional wellbeing, you build a level of trust that transcends transactions.
