Social Isolation in Older Adults Causes Significant Mental and Physical Health Issues

Palos Heights - When Ceci McCormick worked at Oak Forest Hospital “back in the day,” patients were housed in wards of about 20 people. “There was downside to that of course,” she says, “but once the hospital was remodeled and patients were moved to two-person or single rooms, I really saw a decline in people. They weren’t getting the same interaction with the nurses, physical therapists or other staff, just hearing them talk about their kids, or grandkids or graduations from college – whatever was going on in the lives of the staff. Having that kind of action occur around older people is good for their brain processes and their wellbeing.”

The data bears out McCormick’s observation. Studies show social isolation can increase an older adult’s risk of dementia by as much as 60%. Experts also conclude that there is a strong correlation between high levels of social contact and better memory and thinking skills.

Along with cognitive decline, loneliness can increase the risk for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It can also affect physical health, raising the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity, and weaken the immune system. Older adults who are socially isolated are more likely to drink too much alcohol, smoke, avoid exercise and have insomnia.

McCormick sees these declines firsthand, especially around the holidays. As a volunteer for Pathlights, McCormick and her husband Lee regularly deliver meals to older adults who are unable to shop or prepare food for themselves. The Palos Heights wife and husband team have been delivering around Pathlights’ service area in southwest and south Cook County for about 20 years.

Many older adults struggle with loneliness at the holidays. “I think it’s because they can't do all that they used to do. Especially for women; they don't have the ability to cook like they did for their families or maybe they have to have people come in to help them decorate their apartment or a condo. And I just think there's just a general loneliness among people that are by themselves,” McCormick notes.

Couples, she says, don’t seem to have the same struggles – and again the data supports her. Over 1 in 4 adults over the age of 65 live by themselves. Studies show lifelong single people are more likely to develop dementia than married people, and people who have lost their spouses are at a slightly higher risk of dementia.

“Family members and their level of involvement can be a huge help,” McCormick says. “If [the older adult] know someone comes in on some type of regular basis that they can look forward to, or even that they’re going to get phone calls – these types of things are very important and it’s much more difficult if these connections are missing at the holiday time. It makes things even harder, particularly if they’ve lost a loved one. That makes people feel sadder and more lonely.”

Pathlights’ Home-Delivered Meals program can be one important connection to reduce the social isolation that many older adults experience. Meals are delivered fresh several times each week, and the deliveries also act as a wellness check as volunteers confirm that the resident is receiving the meals personally. They also offer a variety of resources and support for older adults and their families, including help with benefits such as SNAP and connections to legal, housing, health, transportation and finance services.

McCormick says some bonds were strengthened during COVID because of connections made. “We delivered frozen meals then, just once a week, but we were calling all the recipients regularly to check on them. One gentleman now always asks about my family, because I would have lengthy conversations with him.”

She also has solid advice for those who are concerned about older adults they are familiar with. “I like that commercial – it’s based on two young people, but it’s the same for older people. Slip them a note, bake some cookies and take a few over. Make an extra pot pie and share. If you’re outside and see an older neighbor, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation, because they might be looking for that.”

“Be willing to share your story,” says McCormick. “When people are confined to home, they don’t have a lot going on, so all that’s new to them is what’s on TV and maybe a little bit of family – but sharing your life with them can help you connect with them on a different level.”

Pathlights’ has a full schedule of events for older adults who are experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. These groups can help engage the older adult and support caregivers with shared experiences, resources, guidance and problem-solving. Pathlights’ also hosts TechWise classes, which give older adults basic computer skills so they can connect with family and friends over email, social media and video calls.

Regularly scheduled phone calls are important for building connections. Experts also recommend encouraging older adults to explore their local library for book discussion groups and classes or to volunteer within the community. Explore exercise classes such as water aerobics, yoga or walking groups. A perfect holiday gift for an older adult is to enroll with them in an art class so there is a weekly visit, an opportunity to meet new people and all the brain-friendly benefits of learning a new skill.

McCormick says helping older adults overcome social isolation can be a very powerful experience. “Very early in our delivery experience, we met a gentleman who was very worried and fearful.” Through small conversations over many years of delivering meals to him, the gentleman is now much less suspicious, greets McCormick and her husband at the door with a hearty hello, and is open to accepting information about supports and services that could help him in the home.

“When his 80th birthday was coming, he actually let us know. I told Lee, “We have to do something for him.” So we ended up taking a pizza over there for his birthday,” McCormick says. “You can really make a change in a person just by being open to them, and connecting with them.”