Social isolation is widespread and a significant cause of poor health and wellness outcomes for older adults. Despite common assumptions, older adults often do not have access to the practical and emotional supports they need to stay healthy as they age (Source: Social Isolation Among Older People). As many as 16% of older adults report severe loneliness (Source: Loneliness, Isolation And The Health Of Older Adults: Do We Need A New Research Agenda ), frequently the result of ongoing social isolation, which is preventable.
Social isolation and loneliness can cause a host of negative impacts:
- A 2013 study of 6,928 Alameda County residents using the Social Network Index (SNI) assessment tool, which measures rates of marriage or partnership, frequency of contact with friends and family, frequency of religious participation, and group membership, found that SNI scores “predicted all-cause mortality among both men and women regardless of health status, socioeconomic status, physical activity, obesity, smoking status, alcohol intake, or healthcare use.” (Source: Social Isolation: A Predictor Of Mortality Comparable To Traditional Clinical Risk Factors)
- Prolonged isolation affects physical health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (Source: Ryerson, Lisa Marsh, The Gerontological Society of America: Innovations in Social Connectedness, October, 2017)
- Social isolation increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and dementia. (Source: Social Isolation: A Predictor Of Mortality Comparable To Traditional Clinical Risk Factors)
- Socially isolated and lonely older adults are more likely to be admitted to hospitals and nursing facilities. (Source: Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, And Health Among Older Adults. J Health Social Behavior.)
- Lack of social contact is associated with more than $6 billion in additional Medicare spending every year. (Source: Social Isolation: Detrimental To Older Adults’ Health And Costly To Medicare.)
As people age, they are more likely to live alone. (Source: US Census Bureau, Population Survey, June 2017.) Most older people prefer to remain living independently in their own homes, yet living alone is a risk factor for social isolation and loneliness. Approximately 13.8 million older adults in the United States who are 65 or older (28% of the population) live alone, as do 24% of older adults in Alameda County. (Source: Alameda County Public Health Department Community Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation (CAPE) Unit.)
Social isolation and loneliness typically arise from a complex interplay of additional factors, including:
- Cognitive impairment
- Mobility and/or sensory impairments
- Major life transitions
- Being a caregiver of a severely impaired person
- Low socioeconomic status
- Environmental factors, including living in rural, unsafe, or inaccessible communities
- Having a mental health condition
- Having a small social network
- Limited English proficiency
- Being a member of a vulnerable group, such as women, people of color, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ persons
As with any vulnerability, when the impact of a unique constellation of risk factors overwhelms the strength and resilience of protective factors, an older adult may experience negative consequences associated with social isolation and loneliness. (Resource: AARP Foundation. Framework for Isolation in Adults Over 50)
