As we age, many of us require nursing care. It often takes some time to adjust to living in a nursing home, as long-term relationships and familiar routines are disrupted. This often causes nursing home residents to experience a deep sense of loneliness. Sadly, according to an Altarum survey of nursing home residents, more than 75% of them reported feeling lonelier than usual in 2020.
Loneliness and estate planning
It is not uncommon for individuals to put off writing their estate plans, with some even waiting until they are living in a nursing home. But loneliness and estate planning are usually not a good mix. When people feel little connection to the outside world, they may become vulnerable to undue influence. That is, someone may use a person’s loneliness to take advantage of them.
Your role in preventing undue influence
As someone who cares for a nursing home resident, you can play a role in keeping them free from undue influence. Put simply, if you can lower the loneliness and isolation someone experiences, they may not be so susceptible to undue influence.
Visiting and calling regularly may be enough to do the trick. You might also consider creating a visitation calendar that friends and relatives can use to spread out visits. Ultimately, though, if you suspect someone may be unduly influencing someone you care about, you may have to take action to protect them.