Loneliness in Old Age: An Unaddressed Health Problem

“No one should be alone in old age he thought, But it is unavoidable.”

—The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway

Older persons are more likely to live alone and tend to be less socially engaged. There has also been a decline in religious involvement. This has been perceived to result in a “loneliness epidemic.” Declared as a global epidemic by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy (1), loneliness and social isolation are reported to occur in approximately one-third or more of older adults with 5% of those often or always feeling lonely (2, 3). Recent U.S.-based research suggests the range is 17% - 57% of persons experience loneliness, a figure that increases for those who have mental and physical health concerns, particularly those with heart disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia (4). Loneliness and social isolation have been shown to significantly impact older adults, both physically and emotionally. Areas of the older adult’s life that can be negatively affected when the individual is experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation are listed in Table 1. The long-term (greater than four years) effects of loneliness and social isolation can be even more devastating, including; Increased blood pressure, depression, weight gain, smoking alcohol/drug use, and alone time (5) and decreased physical activity, cognition, heart health, and sleep, stroke and coronary heart disease, in particular (6).

Table 1 Negative Effects Associated with Loneliness

Predictors and risk factors of loneliness and social isolation are numerous, but some may be modifiable. These factors are listed in Table 2 (7–13).

Table 2 Risk Factors for Loneliness

Management of loneliness requires both medical and social interventions. Persons with decreased hearing including those who hear poorly in noisy groups need to be evaluated for hearing amplifiers or hearing aids. Persons with visual disturbances need to be provided with appropriate vision aids. Persons with dual sensory impairment are at particular risk for loneliness (14). Depression can play a major role in loneliness and needs to be treated either with group behavioral therapy especially when minor depression (dysphoria) and medications or electroconvulsive therapy when major depression (15). Cognitive impairment needs to be assessed and where possible reversible causes need to be treated (16). Persons with moderate dementia should be offered Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (17, 18), an evidence-based, non-pharmacologic individual or group intervention.

Developing compassionate social communities are a key approach to dealing with loneliness. Persons who are isolated need to be recognized and attempts made to provide them with social interaction. In this case, transportation represents a major component as well as mobilizing youth and other community volunteers to become friendly visitors (via phone or in-person visits). A variety of group therapies such as laughter therapy, reminiscence therapy, horticulture therapy, exercise and dancing can all reduction loneliness (19).

Emotional loneliness requires a different approach. Emotional loneliness is typified by Albert Einstein, who said, “It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely.” It is clear that for a number of reasons, there are persons in the community who have difficulty making friends. They need coaching in behaviors that will help them make friends and to alter their expectations of friends. These people can suffer loneliness in the presence of multiple social contacts (20). It is important to recognize the role of maladaptive social cognition in loneliness as it needs a different therapeutic approach.

Developed by scholars and practitioners at the Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged at Helsinki University in the early 2000s, Circle of Friends© is built on a model of group rehabilitation with the aim being alleviation and prevention of loneliness in older adults (21). The group of approximately eight older adults who have self-identified as being lonely or socially isolated meet 12 times over three months with a facilitator for the purpose of making new friends, feeling less lonely, sharing feelings of loneliness with others: experiencing meaningful things together; and transitioning into a self-supportive group who continues to meet after the initial three months (22). Each session includes three components: 1) Art and inspiring activities with discussion; 2) group exercise and health-themed discussion; and 3) therapeutic writing with sharing and reflecting on issues related to loneliness (23). Evidence for the effectiveness of Circle of Friends© has been reported by the founders of the intervention to suggest that the intervention is well suited for delivery with older adult populations living in the community, adult day centers, and residential facilities. Outcomes for participants encompass physical and emotional health and health care utilization. Specifically, in a two-year post-intervention study, 97% of participants were still living, reported improved subjective health with decreased health care costs and hospitalizations, only 2.5% had dropped out, and 6 of 15 groups were still meeting (24). Similarly, a later study reports 95% of participants no longer feel lonely, 45–85% made new friends, 40% of the groups continued meetings, and feeling of being needed and psychological well-being improved (25, 26).

Through the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), Circle of friends© is being introduced in the St. Louis, Missouri area. As the first Circle of Friends© groups to launch outside of Finland, two organizations have integrated the intervention into programming for older adults. Both funded through the St. Louis Senior Fund, Circle of Friends© is being offered at the Association for Aging and Developmental Disabilities and through a collaborative partnership between CHIPS (Community Health in Partnership) and the St. Louis Public Housing authority. Both Groups received training during Summer 2019 and launched multiple groups in the fall at locations in senior centers and housing complexes. Groups continue to meet at both agencies with plans to continue this successful intervention to bring older adults together to build new relationships. In addition, a rural hospital in Perry County and the Family Practice program at Saint Louis University are both providing Circle of Friends groups. Our preliminary observations have suggested that the Circle of Friends is an excellent approach to reduce loneliness.

Physicians and other health and social service providers tend to be poorly trained and equipped to deal with loneliness (27). Patients are seldom asked about loneliness and providers do not have an approach to treating the “problem.” There is a need to train medical students and residents and other professionals in recognizing loneliness, e.g., ALONE screen (Table 3) and to manage the problem working together with social workers and the community as so aptly stated by Mother Theresa, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” Health professionals need to become more aware of the importance of loneliness in older persons.

Table 3 ALONE Scale