According to the GGD, municipalities should do more to make and keep the elderly socially active. Socially active older people are generally healthier.
A large and strong social network makes the elderly more resilient and healthier. Moreover, the risk of social isolation decreases, for example when a partner disappears or due to physical limitations. This is the conclusion of the GGD of Gelre-IJssel, but probably also applies to other areas in the Netherlands. According to the GGD, municipalities have the task and opportunity to support the elderly in developing and maintaining their social network. Now almost half of the elderly are socially active, a safe neighbourhood, facilities nearby and good public transport options are conducive to social participation. Receiving support and having contacts in the neighborhood also help. The other half who are less or not very socially active are often less educated, single women aged 75 and older. In addition, informal carers who take care of their partner are often little or no longer active. Finally, chronic illnesses, disabilities and psychotic problems limit social participation.
Municipalities are responsible for preventive health care for the elderly under the Preventive Health Act. Under the Social Support Act (WMO) among other things, the municipalities can create provisions so that the elderly can continue to participate socially. Municipalities can, for example, present better and more clearly what facilities and activities exist and, even more, emphasize what options older people still have.
That being socially active is healthy does not seem surprising from the sociological model that humans are social beings. Nevertheless, it appears to be difficult for many elderly people to enter into, maintain or make use of social contacts. According to the National Fund for the Elderly, we have 200,000 people in the Netherlands who are extremely lonely, who only receive visitors once every four weeks. Of the 2.6 million over-65s, 1 million sometimes feels lonely. So there is still plenty of work to be done to keep our elderly as healthy as possible.
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