Social Isolation

Millions of Americans are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which has a significant impact on health and wellbeing. Studies have demonstrated life longevity, physical, and mental health conditions are all negatively impacted when an individual is socially isolated or lonely.1 Social isolation and loneliness are also costly issues, with significant economic impacts. A 2017 study identified an estimated $6.7 billion in additional annual federal spending for Medicare due to a lack of social contacts among older adults.2 For these reasons, social isolation is emerging as a preeminent health and social policy issue.

Earlier this week University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation released findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Health Aging. The new report share results gathered in late January 2023 that add to previous data from polls fielded in 2018 and during all three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report shared that one in three (34%) of older adults reported feeling isolated from others in the past year, a decline from the 2020 report findings.

The Foundation for Social Connection has released Systems Of Cross-sector Integration and Action across the Lifespan (SOCIAL) Framework: The Work, Employment, and Labor (WEL) Sector. This report offers evidence-based solutions and policies to advance social connectedness and address social isolation and loneliness through the work, employment, and labor (WEL) sector. This report aims to provide the information needed by employers, business leaders, policymakers, researchers, and others to develop, test, and implement solutions through the WEL sector. The solutions presented can improve the social connectedness not only of employers and workers, but also, customers, communities, and society at large.

ACL has released a new brief, Leveraging Innovation, Collaboration, and Data with Assistive Technology to Reduce Social Isolation and Loneliness: Success Story from Illinois. This brief highlights a model and innovative partnership at both the federal and state levels that successfully purchased and distributed technology devices to older adults and people with disabilities served by local agencies in order to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

The Research & Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities has released a report on the effects of social isolation and loneliness have on people with disabilities living in rural and urban areas. Findings from the research report include: -People with disabilities report more than double the rates of social isolation and loneliness than people without disabilities -Rural people with disabilities report significantly fewer social connections but similar rates of loneliness compared to urban people with disabilities -Structural barriers related to employment and transportation may play a role in social isolation and loneliness disparities among people with disabilities

ACL’s Administration on Aging funds “Innovations in Nutrition” grants to support the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of the nutrition programs funded through the Older Americans Act. The nutrition programs work to reduce food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition; enhance socialization; and promote the health and well-being of older adults. This guest blog post features Innovations in Nutrition grantees as they describe how one project is helping build capacity within the aging network.

Funded by ACL, this resource library collects digital materials from the Older Adults' Equity Collaborative member organizations to provide tools and guidance to the aging services network, providers, older adults and family caregivers. The resources included cover topics of social isolation and mental health, Alzheimer's and Dementia, disabilities, caregiving, retirement income and security, and emergency planning.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Promoting Healthy Aging for People with Long-Term Physical Disabilities recently published a health policy brief on state responses to the social isolation and loneliness faced by adults with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to all of the states and organizations who have responded with activities, ideas, and actions taken to address social isolation for older adults during the COVID-19 crisis. The following document combines responses received thus far. Please continue to submit state, CBO, and facility activities to ADvancing States so that we may continue to share practices from across the country. Thank you for all you are doing to help decrease loneliness in older adults! UPDATED: 10.14.20

This paper explores mid-life and older Americans' knowledge of the risk factors of social isolation. Overall, people tended to underestimate the health dangers of social isolation. Many people also incorrectly believed that social isolation is brought on by a single event, such as the death of a spouse. In reality, social isolation is often the result of a variety of factors.