Isolation / Loneliness

It may not come as a surprise, but the statistics are nonetheless distressing. In a new national poll of adults ages 50-80 from the University of Michigan, one in three respondents admitted they feel a lack of companionship and many also conveyed a feeling of social isolation. Women were especially prone…

For many of us, there’s nothing more pleasurable than grabbing a book and settling down for a spell of reading. As children, our parents may have instilled in us a love of books and as adults, we probably have more books than we can ever read or comfortably house. If…

While the holiday season conjures up images of festive gatherings and family reunions, it’s also a time that highlights the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation in our society. Estimates are that one in every 11 Americans over 50 has no spouse, partner or living child and that 8 million…

As a new report just out from the Kaiser Family Foundation makes clear, loneliness is a growing global public health epidemic. And, according to The Unlonely Project, older adults are especially susceptible to loneliness and social isolation, which can have a negative impact on health and well-being. Unsurprisingly, there are new…

A sad but inevitable part of growing older is that old friends may pass away and making new friends is not easy. As a recent article in Kaiser Health News points out, acquiring new friends, especially into our later years, can be a daunting task. Yet we also know how…

For seniors who have outlived their friends and family, loneliness and isolation are serious concerns. Not only are there psychological implications, but in fact there is evidence to support the connection between loneliness and physical illness, and even premature death. So it only makes sense that doctors consider “treating” loneliness…