PADUCAH — While the holidays can be seen as a time of the year that many come together to celebrate, many adults spend the holidays alone. The “loneliness epidemic” has affected many groups with many adults, including seniors, feeling its effect on their mental health.
According to a survey done by Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common program, 10% of adults 65 and older reported that they feel lonely. The U.S. The Surgeon General’s office also released a report in 2023 that said missing out on social connections is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Seniors at Lakes of Paducah listen to a volunteer performer sing Christmas songs.
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The health and social factors that have led to many seniors experiencing loneliness during the holidays has influenced many local groups to start programs like Family Service Societies “Santa for a Senior.” These types of programs help many seniors in Paducah feel appreciated through gifts and social interaction.
Even in places like assisted living, senior loneliness can be an issue with some residents needing to help others come out of their shells. Sue Rudd is a resident at Lakes of Paducah Senior Living, and she said it was hard to be social before she became a resident at Lakes of Paducah.
“I lived at home by myself, and I might go two days without even speaking to anyone, and that’s crippling to your physical health, but you can work on that,” Rudd said. “But loneliness is something. When you don’t see anybody, it’s crippling to you, to your personality and everything.”
Sue Rudd inside of her apartment at Lakes of Paducah Senior Living.
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Rudd has been in senior living for three years now and says it has helped her immensely to socialize and not feel lonely.
“If you get a little lonely and you want to do something with a group,” Rudd said about living at Lakes of Paducah. “We have all kinds of activities, and you don’t have to just have one thing to do. So that’s very helpful.”
Rudd had just come from Lakes of Paducah’s resident celebration of both Christmas and Thanksgiving where they ate and then listened to a Christmas themed music performance in the lobby. Rudd explained that she was thankful for being able to be a part of these holiday senior events, since she did not go to them before she lived in senior living.
“You don’t want to get out because it’s cold and you sit there in your house all alone, and you start thinking, everybody’s out doing something except me, it builds on itself until it is destructive to you,” Rudd said.
The chairs outside of Lakes of Paducah remain empty due to the cold weather.
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While she regrets not going to a senior center during these times, she is glad she found a place where she can socialize easily and not feel lonely during the holidays.
“I think living here, I’ve seen more people happier, because you can always go outside your door and walk maybe five minutes and you see someone, and you talk to them, and that makes it so much easier than if you were in your home,” Rudd said. You may not see anybody for two or three days, you know. But if you’re here where there are lots of people, you can go outside your door and see someone, and before you know it, you’re in a good conversation.
There are many opportunities to help seniors in Paducah during the holidays, like by donating money or needed items to Santa for Seniors, or volunteering time at a local senior center.
The Paducah Senior Center offers transportation through Center for activities that are free and help them socialize. They can contacted by phone at (270) 443-8579 and they can help transport seniors to events like their free Congregate lunches at noon every day. The lunch is free for any member, which is free and available to any adult over 60 years old.