Quarter of Adults Aged 65+ Considered Socially Isolated

Loneliness and isolation can be regarded as an epidemic as 25% of adults aged 65 and older are socially isolated, and more than 30% of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely.

As people get older, this isolation and loneliness can increase the risk of major diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, substance abuse and Alzheimer's, and other forms of dementia.

Dr. Dilip V. Jeste, M.D., is a renowned geriatric neuropsychiatrist and Director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California San Diego. Speaking on a webinar moderated by Patricia Will, Founder, and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, said that older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation.

Seniors are more likely to face difficulties living alone. Losing family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss can also contribute to loneliness and isolation.

Social isolation is an enemy of wisdom and resilience. The good news is that loneliness and isolation can be managed and even prevented in older people.

Dr. Dilip Jeste

Lots of Lonely People

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine notes an AARP Foundation study that found that 35% of adults aged 45 and older are lonely. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that 22% of adults in the United States say they "often or always feel lonely, feel that they lack companionship, feel left out, or feel isolated from others."

Older adults who are lonely and isolated face increased physical and mental health challenges. Many long-term health care facilities have taken action to keep residents engaged and promote social interaction.

People generally are social by nature, and high-quality social relationships can help them live longer healthier lives. Families, caregivers, and long-term health care facilities should work to improve social interaction and improve the quality of life for older adults.

Results of research analysis published by the National Institutes of Health show that the risk of developing dementia as a result of prolonged loneliness and social isolation is about 49 to 60% higher than in those who are not lonely and socially isolated. Recent research indicates that people encountering loneliness, who were otherwise at lower risk of dementia due to genetic risk factors and age, had a threefold higher risk of developing dementia.

Quality Care Equals Better Quality of Life

Quality long-term health care means a better quality of life. Better long-term care facilities and home care providers understand the need to engage care recipients. However, many families forgo quality care services because they are unable or unwilling to pay for the proper care.

Long-term health care services are costly, and those costs are rising sharply due to inflation, greater demand for care, and higher labor costs. Traditional health insurance, including Medicare and supplements, will not pay for most long-term care services. Medicaid will only pay for long-term care if the care recipient has little or no income and assets.

LTC Insurance Provides Access and Choice

Long-Term Care Insurance will pay for the care individuals need in the setting they desire. However, many people either choose not to buy a policy or are unaware that it was available. Once the need for care arises, the ability to purchase a policy is no longer an option.

It often leaves family members as caregivers who do their best but are untrained, unprepared, and often not as attentive as they would like to be in caring for a loved one.

Most experts suggest better outcomes for families who purchased LTC Insurance and used the benefits for quality care options. Either way, families, and professionals must keep older adults engaged in improving their health and well-being.

Long-Term Care Insurance is usually purchased when someone is in their 50s as part of their retirement plan.