| Physical Tips |
| 1 |
Neglect of personal appearance/grooming/hygiene |
Neglecting personal appearance could be relevant where the person did not do so in the past. This could involve less frequent bathing, not wearing perfume if they used to wear it, less effort put in combing, wearing the same clothes, not brushing their teeth, and so on. |
| 2 |
Significant changes in eating habits |
Significant changes in eating habits could also be another sign of developing loneliness. This could include eating less or more as well as a change in the hours one usually ate. |
| 3 |
Low quality of sleep |
Low quality of sleep is characterized by if it takes you longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep (sleep latency), if you wake up during the night more than once (sleep-waking), or if it takes you longer than 20 minutes to drift back asleep after waking up (wakefulness), or if the amount of time you spend actually sleeping while in bed (sleep efficiency) is lower of 85 percent. Nevertheless, low quality of sleep could be the result of many things including loneliness. It is best to use this sign-in combination with other signs. |
| Social Behaviour Tips |
| 4 |
Decrease or lack of social activity |
A change in social activity is a very important sign to look out for. This could include spending less time on the phone with friends and family, decrease willingness to prolong social visits, or the lack of them. Also, the avoidance to attend events and happenings could be considered a sign to look out for. |
| 5 |
Decline of invitations to participate in activities |
The decline of multiple invitations to take part in social activities. The consistent refusal to attend social activities that used to be interesting for them should be alarming for the individuals. |
| 6 |
NNegative mood |
A negative mood is usually associated with people being angry, annoyed, apathetic, cranky, frustrated, irritable, nervous, upset, pessimistic , melancholic, etc. A negative mood could potentially be a sign of loneliness when the person is consistently in this state. Nevertheless, a bad mood can occur from sleep deprivation, mental health conditions, health conditions (trauma, pain, etc), or medication which some of which can be linked with loneliness but again it is not a stand-alone sign for loneliness. |
| 7 |
Withdrawn/sad body posture or facial expression |
Withdrawn/sad body posture or facial expression can be indications of loneliness. Nonetheless, body posture and facial expressions are unique to the person in your care, and they should be carefully observed. Body language should be considered an indication of loneliness when it is combined with other signs and assessments. |
| 8 |
Verbal expression of loneliness |
A verbal expression of loneliness is the most direct way to assess whether one is suffering or not form loneliness. For example, statements such as "I feel lonely", "I do not have anyone to talk to" etc are considered as verbal expression of loneliness. |