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 organizations and products coming to market aimed at engaging older individuals with stimulation and companionship.

For example, The Unlonely Project itself is an organization dedicated to engaging people in creative endeavors in order to combat loneliness. For both younger and older people, they are raising awareness about the challenges that loneliness can pose. For a fascinating video from this project, portraying the distance and isolation that can develop between an adult son and his mother, take out your tissues and watch here. Or, you can read about a new start-up called Help-Full, which was developed by a former executive from AARP, Jenny Gallagher. Deciding to give up the challenge of long-distance caregiving for her mother and instead move home to work on solutions for lonely seniors, Gallagher knew she needed to do something when her mother said, “I have aides around providing care but never felt more lonely.”

Finally, for a somewhat lighter and more frivolous way to address loneliness, you may want to consider Aibo, the latest robotic dog from Sony, that simulates a real-life dog in ways that are surprisingly seductive and rewarding. Already sold out in Japan, a country with the highest percentage of an aging population, this may be just the gadget to engage your older loved one, minus the need for nightly walks. So take out some treats and Read Here.