Helping Seniors Stay Connected
Researchers have been finding potential links between feelings of loneliness and negative health outcomes. Feeling lonely may put you at greater risk of premature death, serious health problems, and higher suicide rates.
For many, the COVID-19 pandemic made social isolation even more difficult to avoid. In 2023, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy went so far as to issue a nationwide advisory on loneliness. In the report, he declared loneliness an epidemic and a major public health concern.
Loneliness is a feeling of desolation from lacking human connections and interactions, although it's not the same as being alone. Not everyone who lives alone feels lonely, and not all people who feel lonely live alone. People of any age may feel lonely, but the condition is especially common among seniors.
Some Risk Factors for Loneliness Among Older Adults
Several risk factors can contribute to loneliness among people 65 and over. These risk factors include the following:
- Grieving the loss of a loved one
- Experiencing physical or mental difficulties caused by illness or disability, such as decreased vision or cognitive decline
- Being an immigrant who has lost touch with loved ones from their home country
- Belonging to an ethnic minority background
- Living alone
- Lacking the financial means to do various activities or visit others
- Not having meaningful outlets for one's talents
- Serving as a full-time caregiver
