Most of us are social creatures, so there’s been concern that social distancing restrictions may be having a serious impact on our society. Especially for older adults, we know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to serious physical and mental health concerns. Yet a new study published online in the American Psychologist suggests that the anticipated explosion of loneliness among older adults has not yet surfaced. According to this study, despite the detrimental impact of social distancing, there has not been a large scale increase in loneliness. What accounts for this result? The study authors suggest that despite physical isolation, there’s been a shared sense of togetherness in facing the pandemic, along with an increased sense of social support through technology. In fact, some seniors even report increased levels of social activity using such online platforms as Stitch to keep connected to others around the world. To learn more about the study results, click here.

However, this study has limitations that may be hiding deeper concerns. First, the study used online surveys to interact with participants, thereby excluding anyone who is not technologically savvy. Also, the study did not include residents of long term care facilities. And the news from that front appears to be more grim. For example, a report from Arizona Public Radio suggests that due to isolation and depression, many long term care residents are losing their will to live. With reports of residents suffering from lack of contact with loved ones and confined to their rooms within facilities, many seem to be just giving up. And a new report in JAMA Online Network cited social isolation as “the other COVID-19 threat” in nursing homes, with reports of worsening depression, anxiety, dementia, and failure to thrive witnessed in long term care residents as a result of social contact restrictions. Reports from the Cleveland Clinic also seem to suggest that the stress of the pandemic- not the virus itself- may be causing an increase in what is known as “broken-heart syndrome,” a stress-induced enlargement of the heart that can cause rapid and severe heart muscle weakness. While that negative consequence may not be limited to older adults, we clearly can see that many older individuals, isolated from loved ones and lacking in human interaction, have been terribly affected by the coronavirus, even if not actually infected with COVID-19.