By Mariah Martinez
April 2021 | 2021 Spring Newsletter
While social distancing has helped slow the spread of COVID-19, there is no surprise that it has led to increased feelings of loneliness, especially for older adults. According to a report done by AARP (2020), more than 50 percent of adults aged 50 years and older reported feelings of social isolation—absence of meaningful social relationships—during the pandemic.
Social isolation can impact mental health and lead to anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, and general feelings of sadness. Social isolation can also greatly affect physical health which may result in heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.
Although staying safe during the pandemic means limited in-person interactions with your family and friends, there are many ways to combat social isolation and stay mentally and physically healthy.
Keep connected with friends and family by:
- Sending letters in the mail
- Giving a loved one a phone call
- Video chatting over devices that have a camera (phone, laptop, etc.)
- Calling the Institute on Aging’s (IOA) Friendship line at 1 (888) 670-1360 to chat with an IOA Friendship line volunteer
- Calling AARP’s Friendly Voice program at 1 (888) 281-0145. Leave your information over voicemail and a volunteer will call you back for a friendly conversation
- Reaching out to the Foundation for Art and Healing for creative arts activities via phone tailored towards older adults. Learn more at artandhealing.org
- Calling Papa Health at 1 (800) 348-7951 to connect with a “papa pal” who can provide companionship and technical assistance over the phone
- Building new friendships on SeniorChatters in safe online chatrooms with adults over 50 years of age. To register or learn more, visit seniorchatters.co.uk/
Take the social isolation risk quiz at connect2affect.org and find out more ways to reduce social isolation and loneliness.