Rita Moreno on Struggling with Loneliness in Her 90s: ‘I Really Didn’t Understand What Was Happening’ (Exclusive)

Rita Moreno has described herself as a “social” person, but recently revealed that she suffers from loneliness.

In an interview with PEOPLE, the actress and singer, who turns 92 on Dec. 11, recalls feeling “so sad” after recently moving from her home in California’s Berkeley Hills area to a new apartment she loves.

“It affected my appetite,” says Moreno, whose husband of 45 years, Leonard Gordon, died in 2010 at age 90.

“My daughter [jewelry designer Fernanda Luisa Gordon] noticed and said: ‘What’s wrong?’ I said I don’t know. I didn’t know what was wrong,” continues the story from the west side icon. “I really didn’t understand what was going on.”

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ I’m in the most beautiful apartment in the world as far as I’m concerned, and this is happening. Why is this happening?” she says.

The life of Rita Moreno in photos, at the celebration of her 91st birthday

“I took all my experience in therapy, psychotherapy, and I just kind of put it together and said, ‘What’s wrong? Something is wrong and it has to do with you since you moved,’ says Moreno, who stars in the new Netflix film Family switch.

Rita Moreno and daughter Fernando Luisa Gordon. Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty

It dawned on Moreno that while she has a network of loving friends and family — including a daughter and two grandchildren — not everyone is close. “So when we plan to see each other, we have to make plans, they can’t just drop by,” she explains. “I was really lonely.”

“The most fascinating thing is to learn about yourself,” adds Moreno, who also realized she didn’t know how to make friends.

“I never had to look for other people’s company,” she explains. “You know why? Because people always came to me.”

“One day I thought, ‘This is ridiculous. I have to meet some people,’ says Moreno. “The day I made that decision, I went to the supermarket to do some shopping and I bumped into a lady I’ve been seeing all the time, who’s lovely.”

“She had a big smile on her face, she recognized me, obviously, and we started talking. I said to her, ‘Would you like to have lunch with me?’ ” continues Moreno, who said that at that moment she did not even know the woman’s name.

“She said, ‘Lunch with you? Really?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Yes.’ We went and had lunch,” Moreno said. “She sat down and said, ‘Do you always pick people like this at the market?’ ”

“I told her the truth. I said, ‘No, but you always seemed like such a nice person to me. Since I’m new here and don’t know anyone, I thought I’d take a bath.’ ”

Since then, the two have become friends. “She’s lovely,” says Moreno.

This woman is one of several people with whom Moreno befriended. “I also met people from the apartment, the building, who are great,” she says. “I’m lucky.”

Rita Moreno March 13, 2022

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Earlier this year, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness an epidemic.

“Social connectedness is a basic human need, as essential to survival as food, water and shelter,” Murthy wrote in an 81-page advisory report released in May. “Throughout history, our ability to rely on each other has been essential for survival. Now, even in modern times, we human beings are biologically wired for social connection. Our brains have adapted to expect proximity to others.”

“Loneliness is much more than just a bad feeling,” he explained. “It harms individual and societal health. It is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death.”

Last month, the World Health Organization also declared loneliness an “urgent health threat”.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education