Elderly loneliness: A silent danger families often ignore

Loneliness among the elderly is a silent threat, often overlooked by families, as highlighted by a recent case at the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital's Institute of Mental Health.

A 66-year-old woman was admitted with severe depression and suicidal intentions, stemming from profound loneliness after her husband passed away three years prior. For years, she had been the primary caregiver for her husband, who suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. After his death six months ago, she found herself living alone in her rural hometown while her children worked in Hanoi, unable to provide consistent company.

This isolation led to a cascade of mental health issues. She began suffering from prolonged insomnia, sleeping only about two hours a day and sometimes experiencing sleepless nights. This was followed by persistent sadness, a loss of interest in her former hobbies, and a significant weight loss of 5 kilograms in just two months. Despite local medical treatment, her condition did not improve.

In the month leading up to her hospitalization, she frequently cried, expressed feelings of being a burden to her family, and developed suicidal thoughts as a means of "escape." Her family brought her to the Institute of Mental Health for specialized care. Doctors diagnosed her with severe depression accompanied by psychotic symptoms and suicidal ideation. After 17 days of treatment, including medication, psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, her health improved, and she was discharged for outpatient monitoring.