Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Innovation Challenge - Elderly Loneliness
According to a study report from the National Academy of Sciences (Feb 2020), many older adults are socially isolated or lonely—or both. The study found that nearly one-quarter of Americans aged 65 and older who live in community settings are socially isolated, meaning they have few social relationships or infrequent social contact. A significant proportion of adults in the United States (35 percent of adults 45 and older, and 43 percent of adults aged 60 or older) report feeling lonely—different from social isolation, loneliness is a subjective feeling of being isolated. The National Poll on Healthy Aging (University of Michigan) found that that one in three seniors (50-80)(34%) reported feeling a lack of companionship (26% some of the time, 8% often) and 27% reported feeling isolated from others (22% some of the time, 5% often) during the past year. Living alone, in particular, was highly associated with feeling lonely. Among those living alone, 60% reported feeling a lack of companionship and 41% felt isolated. It is likely that the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is exacerbating the issue as senior citizens social isolate due to state orders and feel the added pressure of being especially susceptible to the disease. Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks for many older adults:
Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (Holt-Lunstad, 2010)
Loneliness is worse for you than obesity. (Holt-Lunstad, 2010) Lonely people are more likely to suffer from dementia, heart disease and depression. (Valtorta et al, 2016) (James et al, 2011) (Cacioppo et al, 2006)
Loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 29% (Holt-Lunstad, 2015)
This Innovation Challenge, for secondary students, is how might we reduce loneliness among elderly people in our community? Download the playbook to get started with your secondary students (in-person or virtually).
