Social isolation among older adults: Causes, health risks and ways to reconnect

(Aging Untold) — As Americans age, many might experience feelings of isolation—whether living alone or with family members who may not fully include them in daily life.

What drives isolation in older adults

One in four adults 65 and older are socially isolated, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Isolation can occur when an older adult is living with family.

In some cases, a family member may move a senior into their home but continue living separately from them, without meaningful engagement.

“You’ve invited this person into your home and into your life and engage with them,” Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist and Aging Untold co-host, said.

Health consequences of social isolation

Isolation is not simply a matter of being physically alone. An older adult can be surrounded by others and still feel unseen or excluded, which carries its own health risks.

“You could become depressed,” Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician and Aging Untold co-host, said. “It breaks down to the body’s response to feeling stressed and it tends to lead down that pathway of getting sick, other medical conditions, making things worse.”

The less an older adult engages with others, the greater the risk of deteriorating cognitive function, Cradduck said.

“What we’re trying to say is just allowing our aging community to continue to feel part of the world,” Cradduck said.

Practical steps for caregivers

For older adults who face physical limitations that prevent them from leaving home, aging expert and Aging Untold co-host Amy O’Rourke suggested practical solutions such as using rideshare services to facilitate outings or arranging deliveries to reduce barriers to social participation.

Rogers noted that some older adults who were previously active may become isolated following a health event such as a stroke. In those cases, other forms of communication and connection should still be maintained.

Rogers, who is serving as a caregiver for her parents, said daily visits provide meaningful socialization.

“My mom loves to hang out with me,” Rogers said. “She just enjoys that socialization.”

Aging-well coach and Aging Untold co-host Katherine Ambrose said it is important for healthy adults to think about how to be more engaged.

“How can I spend more time with cohorts, people that have had kind of the same life experiences, lived in the same time, maybe raised their family in the same time,” Ambrose said.