By Lisa Marsh Ryerson and Sandy Markwood
Most of us think of the holidays as a time to connect with family and friends. We share meals, exchange gifts and celebrate the ties that bind us to one another.
But for millions of older adults, the holidays can be a time of loneliness, detachment. Isolation.
Isolation is more than being alone; it’s the result of becoming disconnected from support groups of family, friends and community. For some, that disconnection reaches its lowest point during the holiday season.
Staying connected to the people and things that matter to us is fundamental to our physical and mental well-being. We need social connections to thrive — no matter our age.
As we grow older, however, staying connected isn’t as easy as it once was. Many of the normal processes and transitions that happen with age — hearing loss, the death of spouses, partners and peers, impaired mobility — increase our risk for loneliness and isolation. We leave the workforce, and with it some of our strongest social connections. Our loved ones may need constant care. Lack of accessible transportation can limit our social interactions, as well as the ability to get to doctors’ appointments and to the grocery store. The list goes on…
All of that has a negative impact on our health. Research shows that the adverse health consequences of chronic isolation and loneliness, while harmful at any age, are especially so for older adults. Older adults who describe themselves as lonely have a 59 percent greater risk of functional decline and a 45 percent greater risk of death. Studies have found that the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
But isolation harms more than the isolated. We all lose without the knowledge, perspective and talents older adults can bring to our communities.
The good news is that with greater awareness, we can take steps to maintain and strengthen our ties to family and friends, expand our social circles and become more involved in the community around us.
That’s why AARP Foundation and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), in partnership with the Gerontological Society of America, Give an Hour and UnitedHealth Group, have launched Connect2Affect — and in doing so have made those steps part of a broader journey to end social isolation. A collaborative effort, Connect2Affect is a platform that features tools and tips to help end isolation among older adults and build the social connections they need to thrive.
Fighting and preventing isolation in people age 50 and over isn’t about fixing one thing. We’re looking at all the connections that make up a person’s life and coming up with ways to make sure connections stay strong, even in times of stress and crisis. Through research and ongoing collaboration, we’re working to create a deeper understanding of loneliness and isolation, draw much-needed attention to the issue and catalyze action.
If you’re grappling with chronic loneliness this holiday season, visit Connect2Affect (connect2affect.org) and download the Eldercare Locator’s “Home for the Holidays” brochure, which includes resources to help you pinpoint your risk for isolation and find practical ways to reconnect to your community. And while you’re on the website, click on the Get Connected tab to explore ways to get in touch with others who may be feeling lonely and disengaged.
When people connect, they affect each other’s lives. Together, we can build a future where no older adult feels alone for the holidays.
To learn more about how to recognize and reduce isolation for yourself or someone you love, visit connect2affect.org.
Lisa Marsh Ryerson is president of AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP, which serves vulnerable older people by creating and advancing effective solutions that help them secure the essentials. Sandy Markwood is CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, which envisions a society that values and supports people as they age.