Addressing the health dangers of loneliness among older people

Organizations (such as the American Heart Association, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the AARP), health leaders (such as former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy) and researchers, and others have drawn urgent attention to the serious health consequences of social isolation and loneliness, particularly for older people. Research has shown isolation significantly increases the risks of disability and death, as well as heart disease and stroke, and is comparable with smoking, alcohol, and obesity. Research indicates prolonged loneliness is a risk factor for dementia.

Although most adults wish to age in their own homes, increasing infirmity or immobility often means reduced social connections, leading to increased isolation and loneliness over time when aging at home. Vision and hearing impairment typically exacerbates this. Even in busy nursing homes, residents can quickly lose family and community ties and feel increasingly isolated; loneliness rates are generally highest among institutionalized people.

As the US population becomes older, the number of people at risk of loneliness-related illness and dementia will increase. Addressing this challenge will require rethinking the approaches to housing, nursing homes, and social engagement. Encouragingly, several emerging approaches have promise.