During this holiday season, when everyone is celebrating with festive cheer, there are those in the community that are isolated and alone. These individuals are our focus for our pilot, “Connectedness Project”, focused on improving the quality of life of underserved older adults impacted by serious illness who are experiencing loneliness. This project is supported by a generous grant from the Humana Foundation in partnership with The Foundation for Social Connection.
Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) can significantly impact health, especially those with serious illness and their caregivers. Research suggests loneliness and ongoing SIL can lead to an increased risk of depression, anxiety and dementia, increased healthcare spending, and premature death. The effects of loneliness and social isolation are a public health crisis.
Key Data Points
- A synthesis of data across 16 independent studies shows poor social relationships (social isolation, poor social support, loneliness) were associated with a 29% increase in the risk of heart disease and a 32% increase in the risk of stroke. Chronic loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50% in older adults.
- Adults across the globe rate their social relationships, particularly with family and close friends, as the most important source of meaning, purpose, and motivation in their lives.
- Adults across the globe rate their social relationships, particularly with family and close friends, as the most important source of meaning, purpose, and motivation in their lives.
This project is focused on community-centric and community-led interventions in partnership with trusted community leaders to connect lonely older adults to resources within the community. Our experience with other community care programs has shown success in utilizing these “bridges of trust” to increase access to supportive services for underserved older adults. Trusted leaders are listeners, connectors, and educators in addressing loneliness in this population.
In 2025, C-TAC will implement this project in Louisville, Kentucky – which has some of the most underrepresented, under-resourced, and marginalized zip codes in the country. C-TAC will build on its current foundational work in Louisville to identify and deploy trusted community leaders as super connectors to work with seniors experiencing the lack of social connection, identify what is most helpful to them, and evaluate the intervention to demonstrate the value and benefit for sustainable support of these stakeholders in community care programs.
Connection plays a critical role in individual, community, and societal health. The Surgeon General Advisory calls attention to that role and offers a framework for how we can all contribute to improving social connection. According to US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, “People began to tell me they felt isolated, invisible, and insignificant. Even when they couldn’t put their finger on the word “lonely,” time and time again, people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, “I have to shoulder all of life’s burdens by myself,” or “if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice.” It was a lightbulb moment for me; social disconnection was far more common than I had realized.” His report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, explores how social connection leads to healing.
The national strategy includes Six Pillars to Advance Social Connection and our project will utilize and advance these strategies, especially the pillars to Strengthen Social Infrastructure in Local Communities and to Build a Culture of Connection.
If you know someone in your own community experiencing loneliness, please reach out to make their holiday season even brighter. Get involved by contacting us at info@theCTAC.org.
The project is led by: Stephanie Anderson, DNP, RN, VP Programs.
