In many ways, America’s elderly population is invisible. That is, as a person’s relative utility diminishes in the context of our fast-paced, productivity-maximizing culture, they are relegated to musty old-age homes, banished to the peripheries of society. Their suffering, in other words, becomes an afterthought, demonstrating the importance of protecting the elderly from social isolation.

A 2024 study published by the American Medical Association found that “adults aged 50 to 80 years commonly reported loneliness and social isolation.”

What’s more, this age cohort is increasingly living alone. This is particularly problematic, as individuals in their years of infirmity require special attention and regular check-ins. These check-ins provide them, among other things, with much-needed social connection and companionship.

When they are starved of connection, however, the elderly become vulnerable to a slew of problems, further demonstrating the importance of protecting the elderly from social isolation.

Researchers are learning more and more about the psychological and physiological side effects of loneliness every day. These include, but are certainly not limited to, increased risks of cardiovascular disease, all-cause dementia, and cognitive impairment.

Thankfully, though, in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and public officials are paying far more attention to the deadly scourge of loneliness and social isolation.

In fact, tackling the loneliness epidemic has been a bipartisan effort.

In February of this year, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) reintroduced the Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief (SENIOR) Act. This legislation, if implemented, would amend the preexisting Older Americans Act to include “loneliness” in the definition of “disease prevention and health promotion services.”

Additionally, as part of the act, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be tasked with preparing a report on the effects of loneliness on America’s elderly population, as well as some prescriptive measures for ameliorating them.

Lastly—and, I would argue, most importantly—the bill calls for an emphasis on intergenerational connectedness, i.e., programs that bridge generational gaps by bringing together younger people and the elderly in shared activity.

Read the full article about protecting the elderly from social isolation by Frank Filocomo at Philanthropy Daily.