Search Results for: social isolation

by agebuzz Managing Editor Connie Zuckerman   Let’s face it: the need to quarantine these past few months has not been easy on anyone. But it’s been especially difficult for older adults, many of whom live alone or in isolated circumstances away from family and loved ones. For these seniors,…

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…

For people without friends or family, the holiday season can be especially lonely. And for seniors, the toll that loneliness takes can be catastrophic. As our older population continues to expand, including the growing group of “elder orphans,” we will have to come to grips with, and devise solutions for,…

Psychologist Susan Pinker’s recent book, The Village Effect, marshals original field research with psychological theories and evidence to arrive at a singular conclusion: Face-to-face social interactions are probably the most determinative factors in whether you live a long life. Pinker, a journalist and developmental psychologist, has explored the reasons that…

You may be familiar with the award winning public radio program, On Being. Hosted by journalist and author Krista Tippet, the show tackles some of the big questions in life. The website for On Being not only features stories from each week’s radio program but it also has essays that delve into…

It’s likely no surprise that loneliness continues to be a significant public health concern in the United States. As we reported last year when Surgeon General Vivek Murthy raised alarms about the public health crisis of loneliness in our country, loneliness is not only a subjective individual feeling of disappointment…