Preventing Loneliness and Social Isolation: Bringing Americans Together

Overview

In America the number of adults who reported being lonely has tripled since the 1980’s from 1 in 5 to 3 in 5 adults and these numbers were taken before the pandemic. Now social isolation is not only a sad reality of American life but a medical necessity to prevent an even deadlier disease. While isolation has become the healthier option, the destruction isolation inflicts cannot be understated.Those who experience chronic loneliness are at a significantly greater risk for developing the conditions that lead to premature death such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, altered immune systems, and depression. A 2015 meta review of 70 studies showed that loneliness increases a person's risk of dying by 26 percent. In addition to health consequences, social isolation and loneliness have an impact on hospitals and health systems. The costs of treating patients experiencing social isolation are comparable to the costs for treating chronic conditions. On average, more than $1,608 is spent annually on socially isolated adults, which is $204 more than annual spending to treat arthritis. People who are socially isolated also tend to have longer hospital stays (which incurs a greater risk of deadly infection) and more frequent rates of readmission. The increased mortality risk is comparable to that from smoking. And loneliness is about twice as dangerous as obesity.

This phenomenon cuts across all generational lines leaving misery and sickness in its wake. A recent YouGov poll reported that 22 percent of millennials (ages 23 to 38) say they have "no friends." And studies have shown that isolation and loneliness only gets worse particularly once people make it past the age of 75. Social isolation remains to be a deadly condition for America’s elderly. Studies of elderly people and social isolation concluded that those without adequate social interaction were twice as likely to die prematurely. Even our youngest generations aren’t safe from social isolation as one study showed that almost 60% of Gen Z’ers reported a large number of behaviors associated with social isolation. Although they may be the most digitally literate and therefore prepared to stay connected during this pandemic it isn’t clear that this is a viable option. In fact some studies have shown that an individual’s happiness can be inversely proportional to the amount of time they spend online. Loneliness is killing all of us and is expected to get worse in the years to come so now is the time we rethink our social support systems and act.

This timely symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for counselors, community organizers, healthcare and mental health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to reflect on progress made, identify challenges and consider next steps to bringing America together in a meaningful way. Cross-sector exchange will help facilitate better partnerships between civil society, the private sector and government actors. It will allow delegates to consider solutions to identified barriers and challenges to stopping social isolation. Participants will be able to transfer key learnings and best practices to their own communities whether at the local, state or national level.

Delegates Will

• Discuss healthy practices to stay socially connected online

• Consider effective strategies to screen for social isolation and loneliness 

• Develop strategies to connect people with social programming in their communities.

• Learn how to develop social support groups to fight social isolation

• Consider how to fight social isolation among all generations 

• Explore opportunities for multiple sectors to collaborate to prevent social isolation 

• Identify how to protect older Americans from the dangerous consequences of social isolation

Program

Who Should Attend?