The game through which young people understand the loneliness of the elderly. The first thing they did: "Hello, grandma? I miss you"
A quarter of the elderly in Romania suffer from acute loneliness, which often leads to depression. An association conducted an experiment to show other generations what loneliness means as one ages.
The conclusion was that a simple phone call, a minute of conversation with a grandparent or another beloved elderly person significantly contributes to their well-being.
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An escape room, a game played in a closed space from which one must find a way out, took the form of a room specifically designed for the elderly. The participants were several young people.
In order to be able to leave the room on their own, the organizers gave them some tasks to do. However, for each clue, the young people did an exercise to understand how loneliness feels: "To solve a puzzle. To make themselves a tea or to flip through an old photo album".
Young woman: "There's a TV show about bears on, and I don't understand why I'm still watching...".
In the end, they reached the chest where the key was. But...
"- The lock isn't working, I think it's jammed, it won't open".
"- If you want to escape from this room, call someone older and tell them you miss them, at least help them a bit to escape from loneliness".
"How are you, grandma? I thought I'd call you. I wanted to tell you I miss you.
Grandmother: I'm glad someone says they miss me. You know I'm waiting for you. I know you'll come, I don't know when you'll come, but I'm waiting for you with great joy".
"I've seen what it's like to be in a room and not be able to get out"
After the experiment, the young people shared how loneliness felt.
"I've seen what it's like to be in a room and not be able to get out".
"An emotionally painful routine".
"I did something I don't usually do, even though I feel it, I verbalized the fact that I miss someone. She still gets to hear that from me".
Cătălin Dinu, Executive Director of the "Never Alone" Association: "We showed them that loneliness is more than just a problem with a simple solution. We brought up longing. This gesture, which we consider easy, takes us 20 seconds, but it makes a considerable difference in their lives".
"- I'm alone. I don't have a wife. She passed away. And I come here.
- Do you feel lonely?
- At first, it was really hard. Almost a year after my wife died, it was very difficult. Now I've gotten used to it. I don't have children".
"I'm alone. Without family. I spend my time here alone. I have an apartment. My wife and child passed away. I come here sometimes, I signed up for a social canteen, I also eat for free".
1 in 4 elderly people in Romania feels an acute level of loneliness, which manifests as types of depression, according to a national study conducted by Kantar Romania.
Factors such as poor health or the loss of a life partner contribute to the reduction of social interactions, so 28% of the elderly end up socializing with at most 4 people in an entire month.
