Social Isolation, Loneliness, & COVID-19

Retirement Connection Guide • 1-800-462-1316 Social Isolation, Loneliness, & COVID-19

Even before the coronavirus pandemic and “social distancing” radically changed our lives, many already felt socially isolated and lonely. The medical community and mental health professionals have long considered loneliness to be an “epidemic” with serious health consequences. In 2017 Dr. Vivek Murphy, U.S. Surgeon General (2014-2017) said, “During my years caring for patients, the most common pathology I saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness. Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day and even greater than that associated with obesity.” And while loneliness can impact anyone, it is particularly detrimental for older adults. Retirement, death of a spouse or close friends, illness, hearing and vision problems, adult children or grandchildren living far away, and reduced mobility all put seniors at a higher risk of isolation and loneliness.

Seniors who experience social isolation have a higher risk of mortality and are more likely to develop health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, cognitive decline, dementia, or to become overweight or dangerously underweight. Steve Cole, Ph.D, Director of the Social Genomics Laboratory at UCLA, found that “Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases. The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s Disease.” What can we do to combat social isolation and loneliness in our loved ones? Living arrangements as we age are an important consideration. Many find comfort in the social connections formed in assisted living settings, yet others desire to remain in their own home. When that is the case, companionship from a professional caregiver is one option to alleviate isolation. As family, we can stay connected by phone and computer with regular voice or video chats. A call to read a newspaper out loud, listening to music over the computer or going on a “virtual tour” of a museum or national park are ideas. This first step is that we can’t be afraid to talk about loneliness and address isolation with a solid plan to combat it as we and our loved ones age, given that The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reports that approximately onequarter of Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. Social isolation and loneliness are serious public health risks that families need to plan for together to promote healthy aging.

Article Provided by: Family Resource Home Care 206-545-1092 www.FamilyResourceHomeCare.com