Loneliness and Isolation in Seniors: How to Help

Loneliness can strike at any age, but seniors are especially vulnerable. They may lose family or friends to death or divorce, or be struggling to acclimate to life as a retiree. Caring’s 2024 senior workforce study found social opportunities were the fourth top reason seniors rejoined the workforce after retirement.

Regardless of employment status, illness and cognitive issues may cause senior isolation, and even simple hearing or vision loss can make a senior feel left out and alone. Studies suggest that up to 32% of seniors age 55 and older feel alone at any given time. 

Are there elderly loneliness solutions? Yes — and we highlight some of them in this guide to loneliness in old age. Find out more about what causes isolation and how you can help your loved one (or yourself) find your way to a fulfilling life. 

 

What are the causes of loneliness in the elderly? They are numerous and depressingly common. As people age, they may find themselves facing the death of friends of a similar age, which can leave them with less of a support network. Family members — children and extended family — may be busy and not able to visit as often as they might wish to. 

Loss of independence may play a role in loneliness in the elderly population. For example, if a senior is no longer able to drive, they may not be able to visit friends or family, or grocery shop for themselves. This may also be the case if they are on a fixed income or tight budget, and can't afford trips or restaurant meals with friends. Caring’s 2024 senior workforce study found that leisure, food, and travel were the top categories retirees cut back on in order to remain retired.

Health plays a role in loneliness in old age, too. Chronic illnesses such as heart disease or COPD make it difficult to plan activities with friends and family. Mobility limitations and vision or hearing impairments may mean that even simple gatherings are a challenge.  Cognitive issues, such as dementia or depression, may leave a senior feeling isolated and confused, even when they are surrounded by friends or loved ones.

Loneliness in the elderly is not limited to any specific category and may touch the lives of most seniors at one time or another. Certain groups, however, are more prone to experiencing isolation and have a higher risk of the health issues associated with loneliness.

In the U.S., approximately 28% of seniors live alone, including roughly 5.7 million men and 10.5 million women. For some, solo living may be a conscious choice, and they may relish the quiet and independence of a simple life in their own home. But older adults are more likely to live below the poverty line, in situations that do not provide the care and support they need. 25% of those living alone over the age of 65 are considered to be socially isolated, and many are unable to access social networks or appropriate health care.

According to the American Psychological Association, 47% of seniors aged 75 and older are living with disabilities in the U.S., while 24% of adults aged 65-74 can say the same. The APA also notes that the number of older adults with hearing or vision loss is higher than the population in general. 

Although specific disabilities vary in their effect on a person's life and activities, in general, disability is a risk factor for social isolation. Even the overall frailty that often accompanies aging can make a senior more prone to losing their connections to others.  

There are multiple types of senior living, ranging from independent living residences to the more staff-heavy assisted living facilities and nursing homes. While seniors in a community residence or senior home are likely to see more people daily, they may still experience loneliness, especially when new to the facility. Studies show that senior living residences, especially nursing homes, can lead to social isolation due to the increased dependency and loss of independence, with fewer opportunities for the senior to form real and lasting friendships. 

According to Caring’s 2024 senior workforce study, roughly one in three seniors works full- or part-time to make ends meet. At the same time, approximately 40% of older Americans rely solely on social security to get by, which averages $1,979 /month. That might sound like enough, but when the average cost of an apartment in the U.S. is $1,356/month, that leaves little extra money for social events, such as dining out with friends, going on group vacations, or visiting far-off family members. 

Loneliness and isolation are higher in veterans than in the general population, according to some sources, with up to 44% of veterans experiencing these feelings at some point. Veterans may experience loneliness when they are discharged from service and leave behind their military comrades, as well as when they enter their senior years. The Veterans Administration, noting this, created a program in 2023 called Compassionate Contact Corps. This non-clinical program uses trained volunteers to connect regularly with veterans facing isolation.

LGBTQ+ seniors may face increased risks of isolation and loneliness than the general population for several reasons. They are more likely to live alone without a partner and are three to four times less likely to have children, who would normally be part of a senior's support network. LGBTQ+ seniors are more likely to live with financial insecurity, which, as we noted above, can cause social isolation. Because LGBTQ+ seniors have often been the victims of discrimination and hate crimes, they may be more reluctant to reach out to form new connections or friendships.

Seniors who are immigrants or refugees may be particularly prone to social isolation due to language and cultural barriers. These seniors could have left behind social networks or extended family in their native country, and may face financial challenges as well. A study in the journal Aging & Mental Health found that the lack of social connections in their adopted country was most likely to cause isolation in immigrants. For some refugees, identity-based senior living may help alleviate the loneliness.

The effects of social isolation and loneliness on elderly individuals vary from person to person, but there can be negative effects on both physical and mental health. These factors were only heightened by the need for isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. These isolation impacts build upon a large 2010 study which concluded people with weak social relationships increased their risk of mortality by 50% over those with more robust connections to others.

It might seem odd that loneliness affects physical health, but that is indeed the case. Consider the following factors:

• Cardiovascular and Brain Health: A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicated "a direct association between social isolation, loneliness, and coronary heart disease and stroke mortality." 
• Dementia: While there is no definitive link between loneliness and dementia, studies have shown a higher risk of cognitive decline for those who are chronically isolated. A 10-year Harvard study found that 22% of senior participants who felt lonely three or more days a week developed dementia, as opposed to 13% of those who did not experience loneliness.
• Immune System Issues: People who are chronically lonely may have a weakened immune system, rendering them more vulnerable to everything from the common cold to serious inflammatory conditions. Socialization can induce change in a person's immune response to stressors, making them more resistant to some ailments. 
• Obesity: There is evidence that people facing social isolation are more prone to health-related behaviors with negative consequences, such as smoking, eating poorly, and drinking heavily. These behaviors may cause decreased health and can also impact mental health.
• Elder Abuse: According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in six adults aged 60 or over has experienced abuse of some kind. It appears that social isolation increases a person's susceptibility to abuse — and curiously, according to one study, more likely to make abuse victims become abusers themselves. 

Although sometimes not as visible as physical health, mental health is also a vital component in a senior's life, and social isolation and loneliness play a primary role in moderating it. A healthy older adult is likely to have a robust network of friends, family, and acquaintances with whom to interact regularly. A person who lacks this social network may be more susceptible to the following:

• Depression and Anxiety: Multiple studies have shown a strong link between depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In-person contacts and a perceived adequacy of relationships seem to have the largest impacts on a senior's ability to withstand depressive symptoms.
• Suicidal Ideation: Social isolation and loneliness have been identified as risk factors for suicide in persons of all ages, with white males over the age of 85 considered to be at the highest risk. 

No matter where you live, there are a variety of resources that could help you feel less lonely. National organizations help seniors throughout the country by providing friendly check-ins, volunteer projects, socialization opportunities and other initiatives. There are also organizations that serve seniors over a multistate service area. In the chart below, you’ll find some notable organizations that help fight loneliness.

If you are a senior who is facing social isolation, or if you are the caregiver for a senior battling feelings of loneliness, there is help available. You may find local assistance in unexpected places. Consider the following options for finding support and connection in your community:

• The AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect website helps seniors find loneliness support services in their area. It also offers practical tips for building connections with others, including conversation starters you can use when you meet new people.
• Churches, temples, mosques, and other religious organizations may offer groups for seniors that provide connection and support. 
• Visit your local library to see if they offer services for seniors. Many public libraries have senior groups, lunches, and events that are free or available at a very low cost, and provide valuable opportunities for social connection. 
• Volunteering may help seniors connect with others and engage socially. Foster grandparent programs are one option in many regions. 
• Compeer promotes mental wellness by matching people facing social isolation with trained volunteers who meet regularly to offer friendship and support. The program is especially geared toward those who are receiving mental health care.    

Some local organizations can help relieve the effects of social isolation on elderly people. While the examples in this table are nationwide, they might lead you to resources right outside your front door.

There are many online resources that can help seniors combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. The websites below provide information about how to cope with loneliness, grow your social network and use technology to stay in touch with friends and family members.

Although loneliness can happen to anyone, seniors are particularly prone to feeling alone and socially isolated. Seniors who live alone, those with disabilities, veterans, and other groups can be especially plagued by feelings of isolation. Social isolation can lead to health problems that range from depression to heart disease, but fortunately, there are tactics that seniors and their caregivers can take to provide a richer, more vibrant social experience, from volunteering to owning a pet.

• Abuse of older people. (2024). World Health Organization
• Average monthly apartment rent in the United States from January 2017 to January 2025. (2025). Statista
• Ausubel, Jacob. Older people are more likely to live alone in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. (2020). Pew Research Center
• Boamah, Sheila A. Social isolation among older adults in long-term care: a scoping review. (2021). Journal of Aging and Health
• Cene, Crystal, et al. (2022). Effects of objective and perceived social isolation on cardiovascular and brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Journal of the American Heart Association
• Choi, Soon Kyu, et al. (2016). LGBT Aging: a review of research findings, need, and policy implications.UCLA School of Law
• Crouch, Michelle. (2024). Many LGBTQ+ adults worry about social isolation, support as they age. AARP
• Cuffari, Benedette. (2023).  Does loneliness weaken the immune system? News-Medical.Net
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• DeAngelis, Tori. Nearly half of the oldest Americans have disabilities. (2023). American Psychological Association
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• Facts and statistics about loneliness. (2024). Campaign to End Loneliness, Sheffield Hallam University.
• Get the facts on economic security for seniors. (2024). National Council on Aging
• Hemez, Paul, et al. (2024). How many young and older adults live alone? Living arrangements varied across age groups. U.S. Census Bureau
• Holt-Lunstad, Julianne, et al.  (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PLOS Medicine
• In-home care: battling loneliness in veterans. (2022). Allied Services Integrated Health System
• Kaplan, Daniel B. Older adults living alone. (2025). Merck Manual
• Kuwert, Philipp, et al. Loneliness among older veterans in the United States: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans study. (2014). The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Loneliness and social isolation — tips for staying connected. (2024). NIH National Institute on Aging
• Loneliness is strongly linked to depression among older adults. (2021). National Institute for Health and Care Research
• Malani, Preeti. (2024). Loneliness and isolation: back to pre-pandemic levels, but still high, for older adults . Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan
• Rico-Uribe, Laura Alejandra, et al. (2018). Association of loneliness with all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis. PLoS.ONE
• Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: opportunities for the health care system. (2020). National Academies Press.
• Solan, Matthew. (2022). New details about loneliness and dementia risk. Harvard Health Publishing
• Straus, Elizabeth, et al. (2022). Behavioral epidemic of loneliness in older U.S. military veterans: results from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Tilburg, Theo G. van. (2021).  Social, emotional, and existential Loneliness: a test of the multidimensional concept.The Gerontologist
• Tonui, Betty C. (2022).  Older immigrant adults experiences with social isolation: a qualitative interpretive meta synthesis. Aging & Mental Health
• Valtorta, Nicole, et al. (2012). Loneliness, isolation and the health of older adults: Do we need a new research agenda? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
• What does living on a fixed income mean? (2024). National Council on Aging
• Zhenrong, Ran, et al. (2024). Prevalence of social isolation in the elderly: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Geriatric Nursing