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Has Divorce Increased The Risk Of Mental Illness in the Elderly? 

 

A UK labour think-tank blames the number of the UK's mentally ill elderly on the easing of divorce laws in the late 60's. They say that more retirees are living alone and lonely than ever before.

 

The think-tank points to reports that show divorce rates tripled after the change in divorce laws in the 60's. That's leaving more people alone as they enter old age. Men are more likely to be alone than women because of their limited contact with their children. Reports do show that more women live alone after the age of 75, but that's primarily due to the men's shorter life expectancy.

 

According to the reports, this isolation increases the risk of mental illness. In men it only rises from 7 to 8 percent (married verses single) where in women it raises from 4 to 12 percent. 

 

The real question is, is it really divorce that's leading to this isolation, or is it our society's shifting away from social community?

 

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

by inthenews  754 Posts 

Posted on 7/24/2008 3:56 AM 		Get AlertsGet Alerts!
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Comments for "Has Divorce Increased The Risk Of Mental Illness in the Elderly?"  (2) (You must be logged in to answer)
Yeah, I saw too that depression was high.  I think that has a lot to do with the isolation.  I read a story last year about this guy who lived alone.  He was suffering mental illness, and had fired his caretaker.  A few months later she went back to check on him, found him dead.  He'd been dead for weeks, and nobody knew. 

I thought that was sad.  We separate ourselves from everybody, and we let each other do it.  I wonder is it just me, or is the sense of community dissapearing?  Are we forgetting that we really do need each other?
by Robert-Boyd   5134 Posts
Posted on 7/24/2008 3:09 PM
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I wrote about divorce and older women and I definitely think it's increasing the amount of mental illness, specifically depression.  As the boomers enter their 50s and 60s they're getting divorced in record numbers.  Loneliness is a big problem for older women who don't have as much luck as older men when it comes to finding another mate since women live longer.  I know we like to be upbeat about divorce, and sometimes that's justified, but in many cases it leads to worsening mental health.
by EricaManfred   289 Posts
Posted on 7/24/2008 2:17 PM
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