A recent public survey clearly tells the story of loneliness among older adults: 34% of older adults surveyed feel isolated, and 37% suffer from a lack of companionship. As one expert makes clear, “When Mondays are like Thursdays are like Saturdays, life can be rather drab, miserable, and meaningless.” Beyond these deep, distressing feelings, there are also real physical harms that can afflict a lonely person. We’ve previously cited research exploring the association between loneliness and health, and new studies underscore these potential harmful effects. For example, a recent study in BMJ Medicine establishes a causal link between early mortality and loneliness. This research looked at data from Australian women between the ages of 48 and 55 at the study’s start and followed the participants for over 15 years. The more frequently someone reported feeling lonely, the greater their risk of dying early. Those who reported feeling lonely throughout the entire study were 3 times more likely to die early than those who reported no loneliness.  

In another analysis from the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, again involving Australian adults, this time over age 70 (with no cognitive decline when the study began), those participants who were found to be persistently lonely had a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline than those who were never lonely. In fact, older women who were persistently lonely had a 114% higher risk of dementia than those women who were never lonely. Older adults who already have dementia can also report feelings of loneliness, and they, too, are subject to harm as a result. In a recent study published in BJ Psych Open, 43% of older adults living with dementia were assessed to also be experiencing loneliness. 

So, the evidence continues to mount connecting loneliness with real physical and cognitive harm. A recent comprehensive study examining social isolation and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults called the connection to well-being “complex” but cited the undeniable harmful effects of both of these situations on the physical, mental, and social well-being of older adults. Addressing these concerns and lowering the substantial health risks of lonely older adults will take a multi-pronged, community-wide approach, given its complexity. 

We’ve previously described efforts that can be undertaken to address feelings of loneliness among older adults, including volunteering, joining community groups, accessing and utilizing technology, and improving vision and hearing. But one additional option now has some data behind it to demonstrate its value. In a recent survey conducted by US News, senior living communities (whether independent living, assisted living, or memory care) appear to reduce feelings of loneliness in those who enter this living arrangement. While it’s reasonable to be concerned that not all facilities have a good level of quality living, 61 % of those surveyed reported improvements in their feelings of loneliness and isolation after moving into a senior living facility, and 85% said it was easier to make friends since moving into their senior living housing. Moreover, ⅔ of those surveyed said they were lonely before moving to their senior community, but that proportion dropped to 42% after their move. For more on this survey and the possibility of relieving loneliness through a senior living arrangement, click here.

Or, if living in the community is where you want to be, perhaps taking matters into your own hands and creating your own connections is a strategy to follow. One group of lonely older adults in Argentina decided to air their feelings, quite literally, by starting a podcast during which they unite to discuss life’s challenges and share their various experiences. To find out more about these no-longer lonely senior podcasters, put on your headphones and click here.