Resources for Practitioners

Lisa Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation, says many older people are disconnected from family, friends and other support networks, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

Being socially active in your 50s and 60s may help lower the risk of developing dementia in later life, a study has found.

Four surveys (by Cigna, AARP, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Michigan) have examined the extent of loneliness and social isolation in older adults in the past year. And health insurers, health-care systems, senior housing operators and social service agencies are launching or expanding initiatives.

The Atlantic hosted a series of discussions on combating loneliness and social isolation. Speakers included former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, AARP Foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson and Pew Research Center Social Trends Research Director Kim Parker. They addressed the causes and health impacts of the problem and offered a range of solutions.

AARP Foundation and Aunt Bertha have launched voice-assisted search for local social services to be used by seniors in affordable housing communities in Northwest Baltimore. The new Alexa skill enables vulnerable seniors to easily gather information about free and reduced-cost assistance in their community, such as food pantries, transportation, tax preparation and more.

Even the most socially isolated individuals — those who have no or very few community connections — interact with the health care system.

This report details the meaningful role the health sector can play to help people overcome isolation along with recommendations to enhance that role.