RENO,
Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The pandemic has required millions of
Americans to social distance and quarantine, but new research is finding that
social isolation comes with a heavy toll.
Recent
studies suggest that prolonged social isolation can have a negative
mental, physical, and behavioral effect on adults, especially seniors. Social
isolation is defined as the absence of social interactions and contact with
family and friends, and with “society at large” on a broader level.
Earlier
this summer, Meals on Wheels
America and the Caesars Foundation hosted
the National
Social Isolation Summit. During the summit, researchers and
psychologists explained that social isolation among older adults was rampant
before the pandemic.
With
more physical distancing then ever before, social isolation is at at an
all-time high. According to the research presented at the summit, 1 in 4
American seniors lived alone and 1 in 5 felt depressed or lonely.
Carter
Florence, Senior Director of Strategy & Impact for Meals on Wheels America,
works with seniors often and says COVID-19 and quarantining has only
skyrocketed social isolation.
"We
know that social isolation and loneliness is a really complicated issue, but
it's a growing issue," explained Carter Florence, Senior Director of
Strategy & Impact for Meals on Wheels America. "It requires more than
one solution or more than one type of organization because it is such an
individual illness and and it is one of those conditions that, the more
isolated you are, the harder it is to be un-isolated."
Experts
at the summit also found that social isolation is linked with a greater
likelihood of dementia, heart disease, and depression.
"You're
at greater risk for premature death, for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and
immune and respiratory illnesses," Florence said. "Similarly you have
higher risk for cognitive health declines, dementia and Alzheimer's, as well as
mental and behavioral health concerns: depression, suicide, anxiety, and
addiction."
Treatment
for social isolation is connected to an extra $6.7 billion dollars in Medicare
spending every year. However, that doesn't mean there aren't more cost
effective and simple solutions.
"We
want to stay social connected at this time, especially for our most vulnerable
and at risk for contracting coronavirus," reasoned Florence. "I think
video options if you have that technology available can be quite
beneficial."
Florence
explains that prolonged social isolation can have a negative effect on anyone,
especially older adults. However, a short conversation can go a long way.
She
says now more than ever it's important to check up on your older loved ones
during the pandemic.
If you
live alone or don't have anyone to talk to, there are other resources available
to connect those who are by themselves.
Resources to deal with Social Isolation:
1) The
Call Hub: This is a free tool used to coordinate calls between older
adults and volunteers. This is the technology the Motion Picture &
Television Fund (MPTF) uses for its successful Daily Call Sheet Program. For
more information on The Call Hub, email callhub@mptf.com.
2) Far
From Alone Campaign: This is Humana’s new
campaign through which the organization is collecting and sharing tips,
resources and information to help expand the public’s understanding of
loneliness and social isolation. You can learn more about this campaign and
explore these resources here.
3) Coalition to End Social
Isolation COVID-19 Resources: The Coalition to
End Social Isolation and Loneliness has gathered a number of resources from the
Coalition’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Access these here.
4) Additional
Tools to Measure Isolation and Loneliness: There
are many ways to measure isolation and loneliness, several of which are covered
in this resource here.
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