When it gets cold
In Sweden, one in three women over the age of 77 suffers from anxiety. This is highlighted in the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s 2021 report.
Sonja is one of many people suffering from mental health issues stemming from feelings of isolation and loneliness. Mental health problems can often manifest themselves through physical symptoms. In Sonja’s case, she feels cold despite having a radiator, candles for warmth, and extra layers of clothing.
For Upsala Nya Tidning, 2021.
- It's so cold in the apartment, it's awful, says Sonja. Despite the fact that she informed the home care staff, the heat remains low. I feel all the heaters, which are off, and my feet quickly become cold from the plastic floor.
She has bought her own, external heater and wears two layers of socks.
The lack of sleep and deteriorating hearing has led Sonja to withdraw from meeting others in the common areas of the senior housing.
In an attempt to keep the cold out, she uses cotton pads and duct tape in the window cracks.
– Some may say that you just need to do it. Take a walk, go out there and meet others. But it's not always that easy. There's something in your head that makes it impossible to move, she says.
For Upsala Nya Tidning, 2021.