Social Isolation: An Overview

As human beings, we’re grounded in social connections. It’s a key element for 

thriving and growth. When older adults are socially engaged, communities benefit, 

too. They share knowledge, talent, skills, experiences, and wisdom—providing 

important contributions to their families, loved ones, and communities.

This document contains a summary of key facts and links to technical 

assistance and resources related to addressing social isolation. For specific 

questions about using the Older Americans Act Title III B appropriations under 

the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, please refer to the FAQ document.

Social isolation is more than being alone.

■ Social isolation is the result of being 

disconnected from support groups of family, 

friends, and community.

■ Reduced mobility, hearing or vision loss, 

low income, lack of access to affordable 

transportation, death of a spouse, and societal 

barriers—such as ageism and discrimination 

based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, or 

sexual orientation—

can all contribute to disconnection.

Social isolation and loneliness are not 

the same thing.

■ Social isolation is objective, with measurable 

factors like the size of one’s social network, 

the frequency of contact with that network, 

availability of transportation, and the ability to 

take advantage of support resources.

■ Loneliness is more personal and subjective. 

It’s the feeling of not having the connections, 

companionship, or sense of belonging that we 

need as humans.

Social isolation is prevalent—especially 

among older adults.

■ People of all ages experience social isolation 

and/or loneliness, but it’s especially harmful 

to those over the age of 50.

■ Nearly 25% of U.S. adults over 65 are 

considered to be socially isolated—“the 

objective state of having few social 

relationships or infrequent social contact with 

others”—while 43% of those over 60 report 

feeling lonely.

i

Social isolation affects health and well-being.

■ Harmful health outcomes have been associated 

with chronic isolation and loneliness, including 

premature death, a higher risk for developing 

dementia, heart failure and stroke, and 

increased risk of hospitalizations.ii

■ According to an AARP study, analysis of 

Medicare spending has revealed that an 

additional $6.7 billion is spent annually on 

enrollees who are socially isolated.

Social isolation is as bad for health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Visit ACL.gov/CommitToConnect for more on how to stay connected.
Social isolation among older adults has 

increased because of COVID-19.

■ A survey conducted by AARP Foundation and 

United Health Foundation in August 2020 

found that the widespread impact of COVID-19 

and social distancing measures used to 

prevent infection are intensifying existing 

feelings of loneliness—and, in some cases, 

the impact is more pronounced in older adults, 

particularly among women and those with low 

income.

■ More than half of adults 50 and older 

reported social isolation during the 

pandemic. Respondents most often reported 

feeling frustrated, stressed, anxious, isolated, 

tired, and sad. Among participants over 50, 

women were more likely to report that they’ve 

felt these negative emotions since the start 

of COVID-19. Respondents with low income 

as well as those with high income reported 

feeling more stressed than middle-income 

adults.

■ An interview conducted in September 

and October 2020 by the social research 

organization NORC at the University of Chicago 

with 1,284 respondents ages 55 to 99 found 

that:

• About 1 in 5 older adults (21%) have had no 

in-person contact with friends living outside 

the household during the pandemic. Another 

48% reported less than weekly in-person 

contact with friends.

• By contrast, most older adults reported 

at least weekly contact with friends via 

messages (email, text, or social media) or 

phone calls (68% and 58%, respectively).

• Forty-one percent of older adults have 

used video calls at some point during the 

pandemic to communicate with friends 

outside the household.

In all, 79% of older adults are using at least 

one technology-mediated 

means of communication to 

contact friends once 

a week or more, 

whether via 

messages, 

phone calls,

or video calls.

This growing use of technology to 

communicate with friends is encouraging—

but it’s important to remember that not everyone 

has access to broadband, internet services, or 

tech devices. According to a study that assessed

disparities in digital access, approximately 26% 

(about 1 in 4) Medicare beneficiaries lack 

access to either broadband or the technology to 

connect to it.

■ EveryoneOn is a nonprofit dedicated to 

creating social and economic opportunity by 

connecting low-income families to affordable 

internet service and computers, and delivering 

digital skills trainings.

■ The FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit is a 

solution to address this need and is currently 

underway. We will need to continue to find 

ways to increase access to broadband and 

technology, and likewise increase training 

and education on how to use technology so 

that older adults can visit virtually with family 

and friends, participate in virtual faith-based 

activities and other programs, engage in 

telemedicine visits, and order groceries and 

supplies online.

i Carla M. Perissinotto, Irena Stijacic Cenzer, Kenneth E. Covinsky, 

Loneliness in Older Persons: A Predictor of Functional Decline and Death, 

Archives of Internal Medicine, 172:14,2012, 1078–1083.

ii Laura L. Fratiglioni, Hui-Xin Wang, Kajerstin Ericsson, et al., Influence 

of Social Network on Occurrence of Dementia: A Community-Based 

Longitudinal Study, The Lancet, 55:9212,2000,1315-9.

Visit ACL.gov/CommitToConnect for more on how to stay connected.