Ranchi: The growing dependence on digital devices among young family members is contributing to a widening communication gap with elderly family members and increasing their sense of loneliness, experts said on the eve of World Senior Citizens Day on Thursday.Elderly people grappling with age-related ailments, loss of spouses and financial dependence on their children often need someone to talk to and share their concerns. But with the growing dependence of younger family members on gadgets and screens, the elderly often feel neglected and left behind, leading to a sense of loneliness.“Their children and grandchildren, caught up in the demands of today’s competitive world, often remain busy with work, leaving elderly family members feeling isolated. This can have a significant impact on their mental well-being,” Dr Sanjay Munda, professor of psychiatry at the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) said.Munda referring to a study conducted by CIP among elderly people living with their family members and ones staying in old-age homes said that the study was done among 50 elderlies of both the samples in Ranchi around seven years ago.“The study found that elderly people living in old-age homes had better emotional and psychological well-being than those staying with their families. The lack of direct communication among family members due to increased dependence on gadgets, contributed to a poorer quality of life among the elderly living with their families. In contrast, those in old-age homes, despite facing similar challenges, found companionship among peers, shared their concerns and supported each other, which helped improve their emotional and psychological well-being,” he said.Clinical psychology department’s head at Rinpas, Dr Amool Ranjan, said that lack of conversations among family members has made elderly people to depend on digital devices affecting their cognitive ability and body mobility.He said there is a need to establish household rules to bridge the communication gap between elderly people and other family members.“Simple household rules, such as keeping gadgets away from the dining table, having meals together and using mealtimes to discuss day-to-day happenings, can help improve the mental well-being of elderly family members. Younger generations also need to be more compassionate towards their elderly relatives and make an effort to spend quality time with them to help them lead a better and more fulfilling life,” Ranjan said.
