38: CDC highlights Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults and What You Can Do to Help

So many of us have older adult loved ones in assisted living centers or nursing homes and during this pandemic seeing them can be challenging.

Dr. Craig Thomas serves as the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) director of population health within the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.  He is speaking with Sole Source about a growing problem of social isolation and loneliness within in the older adult population and how it poses serious risks to the public's health.

A recent study from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine shows that before COVID-19 social isolation was associated with 50% increased risk of dementia. And, it's likely even worse now. However, there are ways to combat loneliness and the symptoms that can result in the older population even with social distancing measures recommended by the CDC.

For information on the older adult population at social isolation, visit cdc.gov/aging.

CDC COVID-19 resources can be found here,  cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Resources for older adult isolation and loneliness include:

Area Agencies of Aging (AAA)

Alzheimer's Association - offers a 24/7 helpline at 1 (800) 272-3900.

Eldercare Locator - free national service helping find local resources for seniors such as financial support, caregiving services and transportation.

AARP - provides helpful information to seniors to improve quality of life and provides access to Community Connection Tools.


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