Loneliness and Social Isolation affect many older adults

A new health crisis affecting our aging population comes in the form of loneliness and social isolation. These growing problems that are linked to a variety of aging health issues are difficult to combat, particularly in our pandemic-era world.

There are many tools that can be implemented to help improve social connectedness for older adults. Small group programs - online or in person, well-check phone calls and visits, and daily meal deliveries like Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud provide can all help improve socialization and connectedness. These interventions can help improve the overall health and well-being of many.

What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation?

Social isolation is defined as “a state in which an individual lacks a sense of belonging socially, lacks engagement with others, has a minimal number of social contact, and is deficient in fulfilling and quality relationships.”(1)

Loneliness is often defined as “a state of solitude or being alone.” (2) Feelings of loneliness often impact approximately 20 million older adults each year. Loneliness is a subjective personal feeling.

These two phenomena fall under a larger concept of “social connectedness”. Social disconnectedness is a serious and growing public health concern. There are many factors that can contribute to the problem of disconnectedness, and these factors have a negative impact on more people over time, driving up the cost of addressing these problems. Social disconnectedness is now a substantial predictor of early death in the United States - higher than deaths associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and air quality issues. (3)

Social disconnectedness can exacerbate other health issues. As our aging population grows, the problem looms larger every day.

How to improve the problem

There are many tips that anyone can follow to help improve social connectedness in our aging community:

• Listen to our older neighbors. Help them feel valued, connected, and supported.

• Encourage new interests, activities, and introduce them to new people. People can bond over common interests. New activities and hobbies can create a sense of purpose and provide interaction with like-minded people.

• Utilize technology. Distance does not have to be a barrier. Set up older relatives with FaceTime and Zoom. Make plans to regularly connect with them over video and phone.

There are also many programs and processes already in place to help combat these issues of social isolation and loneliness. Supporting Friendly Visitor Programs and Meals on Wheels Meal Deliveries are a great place to start.

Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud connects our caring volunteers with our aging neighbors. Our team of client specialists routinely calls and checks in on our meal delivery clients. These are all great steps in combating this dire health crisis - but more could be done. Please consider donating or volunteering through Meals on Wheels to help support the important social interaction that our older neighbors need and deserve.

1 -   Shvedko AV, Thompson JL, Greig CA, Whittaker AC. Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults: protocol for a feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2018 Dec 19;4:187. Found on the internet at https://pilotfeasibilitystudies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40814-018-0379-0

2 - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the health care system. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Found on the internet at https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25663/social-isolation-and-loneliness-in-older-adults-opportunities-for-the

3-  Holt-Lunstad, J., Robles, T. F., & Sbarra, D. A. (2017). Advancing social connection as a public health priority in the United States. The American psychologist, 72(6), 517–530.