Search Results for: social isolation

It’s one thing to live alone, as is increasingly the case among older adults in the United States. It’s another to be socially isolated, which the National Institute on Aging describes as “the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly.” In fact, many older adults…

We’ve known for quite a long time that sensory input is critical to keeping our brains healthy and functioning. One important source of that input is social engagement. We also know that one of the most concerning health perils that accompanied Covid was the social isolation of many of our…

It’s no secret that social isolation can take an enormous toll on older adults. And in a twist of irony, it seems clear that cutting off social and physical connections, as we are doing during the coronavirus outbreak, makes it harder for people to fight off infection, among other detrimental…

It’s no mystery that loneliness and social isolation can accompany aging. Previous posts in agebuzz have noted the value of friendships and even pets to help older adults battle the loneliness and isolation that can arise if your social contacts are few, your senses are diminished, your mobility is limited…

Even before the lockdowns of the last year and a half, we’ve known that loneliness has been a huge public health threat in both the United States and worldwide. And yes, many older adults were resilient during the pandemic and even took to technology in surprising and beneficial ways. But…

For a while now it’s been clear that the devastation from COVID has come not only from a physical viral infection but also from the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation it’s caused, especially among older adults. We already know that isolation in older adults can lead to an exacerbation…