The Real Cost Of The Loneliness Epidemic
Chronic loneliness can shorten lifespan by as much as 20 years
Americans Are Increasingly Lonely
- In 2019, 61% felt lonely some or all of the time — Up from 54% in 2018
- Most say that no one around them
- Shares their interests: 61%
- Knows them well: 58%
- Respects their abilities: 34%
- Everyone feels lonely at times, but younger generations feel it more
- 2019 Loneliness Score By Generation*
- Gen Z: 49.9
- Millennials: 47.7
- Gen X: 47
- Boomers: 43.2
- Silents: 39.9
- In the U.S., 18% of suicide deaths are seniors — the highest suicide rate of any age group
- Why So Lonely?
77% of Americans say they lack a social support system
- Everyone needs someone to turn to for
- Dependable help
- Trustworthy advice
- Shared activities
- Lack of these social supports heightens the risk for extreme loneliness
Those with chronic mental & physical health conditions are at greater risk for extreme loneliness that could further compromise their health
Loneliness & Health
- Poor health and loneliness go hand-in-hand
- Those who are lonely are likely to have
- Diagnosed depression: +374%
- Psychological distress: +374%
- Overall poor health: +278%
- Which Comes First?
- Chronic conditions increase the risk of loneliness
- Substance abuse
- Chronic physical illness
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s
- Loneliness can increase the risk of health issues
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Substance abuse
- How Does Loneliness Affect Immunity?
- Loneliness leads to
- Measurable effect on white blood cells, causing
- Increased inflammation
- Decreased antiviral activity
- Increased norepinephrine which interferes with
- “Fight or flight” response
- Production of white blood cells
For seniors, extreme loneliness can increase the risk of death by 14%
Adult Day Care: Socialization Is Essential
- What Is Adult Day Care?
- Provides health, nutrition, exercise, and social services in a group setting
- Allows adults in need of care to continue living at home for longer
- Reduces daily burden and provides education for informal caregivers
- Serves patients with chronic conditions requiring care and monitoring
- Dementia: 50%
- Hypertension: 46%
- Physical disability: 42%
- Cardiovascular disease: 34%
- Diabetes: 31%
- Mental illness: 25%
- Developmental disability: 20%
- The Benefits Of Day Care
[Call Out: Poor diet and lack of exercise have been linked to increased loneliness — Adult Day Care provides these in a group setting for both physical and social benefits]
- Social Benefits
- Social connections with other participants
- Empowering relationships with staff
- Engaging and enjoyable group activities
- Health Benefits
- Fewer ER visits and hospital admissions
- Shorter hospitals stay when admitted
- Delays cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients
- Cost Benefits
- Annually, day care costs $56,540 less per person than a nursing home
- 47% of day care participants qualify for nursing home care
- 20% would move in within a few months of losing day care services
- Adult Day Care In The Age Of Coronavirus
After a stroke, loneliness is linked to greater risk of depression and poor recovery — But, weekly telehealth sessions for discussion and exercise significantly reduced loneliness for stroke survivors and caregivers
- Many 911 calls are for services that could be provided elsewhere — using limited emergency resources need to fight the virus
- Seniors living alone and looking for someone to talk to
- Those in need of medical care but lacking transportation
- Adults with insufficient help or poorly managed conditions
- While in-person programs have closed to protect patients from COVID-19 — Many are continuing to offer remote services
- Daily check-in calls and medication reminders
- Caregiver assistance, education, and medical guidance
- Companionship calls and social teleconferencing
- Grocery shopping and food delivery assistance
CTA: Adult Day Care is essential — Help make our voice heard!
End Flow
Sources:
https://creakyjoints.org/support/coping-with-loneliness-chronic-illness/
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/27/745017374/isolated-and-struggling-many-seniors-are-turning-to-suicide
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-grief/202001/why-do-the-elderly-commit-suicide
https://www.cigna.com/about-us/newsroom/studies-and-reports/combatting-loneliness/
https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/health-wellness/chronic-loneliness
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303084#CTRA-gene-expression-fueled-by-disrupted-fight-or-flight-signaling
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/57/6/e85/3072901
https://madsa.net/adult-day-health-programs-save-state-dollars-and-improve-health-care
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513556/
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/57/3/552/2632072
https://madsa.net/adult-day-health-programs-save-state-dollars-and-improve-health-care
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4636039/
http://lcius.com/publications/publications/caregiver-with-a-badge-the-abuse-of-911-emergency-services-to-fill-gaps-in-care/
https://www.brooklyn-usa.org/as-city-encourages-remote-options-such-as-telecommuting-and-virtual-conferences-to-combat-spread-of-coronavirus-bp-adams-and-local-doctors-call-for-expansion-of-telemedicine-mobile-testing-centers/