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Social Isolation and Loneliness:  Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

We all know Social Isolation is an especially large and important challenge of aging. In this series of discussions among older adults, we explore things like:

  • Can different living arrangements help?
  • How do these older adults like tools like Skype and Facetime, and how best can we teach these tools?
  • What is the root cause of social isolation in the case of various specific individuals?
  • Why is it hard to meet people and what can you do about it?

 

Hear what Older Adults Think: Social Isolation and Loneliness

Staying in Touch: Parents in Lockdown

By: tel-editors

It's a pretty common scenario at present. Your elderly parent, who lives at home — or in a nice senior living facility — is under "lockdown" for the foreseeable future. You can't visit. They are not super tech-savvy and don't regularly use Facetime, or Skype, or Zoom. And you are wondering what... Read More. Add your Opinions

 

Best Video Call Technology

By: tel-editors

Now that we are all "sheltering in place", finding ways to interact virtually with people from our homes has rocketed up people's priority list.

We have had quite a few emails now from people wanting to know the best way to have video calls with their family and friends. Here are some... Read More. Add your Opinions

 

The Loneliness of Old Age

Discussion of Social Isolation and Loneliness by the Longevity Explorers @ Avenidas

Listen to: "The Loneliness of Old Age"

 

 

Explorer Uses Song to Overcome Social Distancing

SF Explorer Lynn explains how she and her neighbors use music to lift their spirits during self-isolation.

Listen to: "Explorer Uses Song to Overcome Social Distancing"

 

Explorer Uses Song to Overcome Social Distancing

 

Explorer Learnings During Social Distancing

SF Explorers discuss their experiences with social distancing during the Covid-19 virus epidemic.

Listen to: "Explorer Learnings During Social Distancing"

 

social distancing

 

How Can I Keep My World from Closing In as I Age?

SF Longevity Explorers respond to the question "What can I do to prevent my world from shrinking around me with age"?

Marty's immediate response is to get a computer. She says that it gives her the ability to see church services, visit vacation sites and archaeological digs, to visit with...

Listen to: "How Can I Keep My World from Closing In as I Age?"

 

Life Purpose

 

Loneliness & Isolation, Providence

Because of a technical problem, the recording of this meeting is not available. Following the lead of other Longevity Explorer Circles, the Providence group focused on the topic of “Loneliness and Social Isolation” at their December meeting.

Our circle divided into small groups of three...

Listen to: "Loneliness & Isolation, Providence"

 

Providence Explorers Loneliness Discussion

 

Want Some Company? Stitch a Group Together.

Explorer AnnieScott tells the group about Stitch.net, an app for meeting people over 50 who are interested in joining activities or events with others.

Listen to: "Want Some Company? Stitch a Group Together."

 

Stitch social networking

 

Brainstorming: Better, More Frequent Connections to Friends

This is a brainstorming exercise between a group of Longevity Explorers and a group of students participating in the 2018 Stanford Longevity Design Competition.

We are brainstorming a "product to make connecting with friends more likely and more satisfactory".

 ...

Listen to: "Brainstorming: Better, More Frequent Connections to Friends"

 

 

Social Isolation in Age: Challenges and Solutions

What is isolation? Is it a choice, a mindset or just a lack of options? For some it's something in the future, not now, but more associated with future incapacitation. Another view is from a member who likes to be alone with friends checking  in – so he may be alone, but he is not lonely....

Listen to: "Social Isolation in Age: Challenges and Solutions"

 

isolation

 

Connecting, Companionship, Avoiding Loneliness

Intergenerational discussion about connectedness and loneliness.

Listen to: "Connecting, Companionship, Avoiding Loneliness"

 

Avoid Loneliness with Age

 

How Can We Reduce Isolation and Loneliness in Age?

The Longevity Explorer group discusses some of the causes and the antidotes to loneliness and isolation in older adults, whether living at home or in a community setting.

Causes discussed include poor health, hearing loss, lack of purpose, and depression.

Possible solutions...

Listen to: "How Can We Reduce Isolation and Loneliness in Age?"

 

loneliness

 

Helping Memory Impaired People Engage with Others

One member spoke of the isolation engulfing his wife as her dementia advances. She can no longer do email but does enjoy Face-time and photo sharing with family and friends. However, she is unable to initiate or even respond to a Face-time call on her own.

The group struggled to fully...

Listen to: "Helping Memory Impaired People Engage with Others"

 

 

Loneliness and Social Isolation: SFV

The group is asked for their observations and comments about isolation and loneliness in later life. Hearing loss is discussed as an isolating condition. Problems with vision, mobility and depression are mentioned as others which limit human contact and reinforce isolation.

Suggested...

Listen to: "Loneliness and Social Isolation: SFV"

 

loneliness in the elderly

 

Housing Solutions to Social Isolation

The type of housing we occupy can greatly affect not only our physical but also our mental wellbeing.

Discussion about different housing options was spirited and informed. Many participants in this Longevity Circle are members of the Avenidas Village that provides resources for people who...

Listen to: "Housing Solutions to Social Isolation"

 

 

Too Much Unfilled Time

Explorer Mary has too much unfilled time, and asks how she can fill her free time, especially in the evenings.

Listen to: "Too Much Unfilled Time"

 

social contacts

 

Barriers to Living Independently: EVC Explorers Discuss

The Explorers are asked to think of what could get in the way of staying independent.

Listen to: "Barriers to Living Independently: EVC Explorers Discuss"

 

barrier

 

Intergenerational Communication: A Gap or a Chasm?

Commonwealth Club Explorers search for ways to help older adults learn to use today's tools for communication.

Listen to: "Intergenerational Communication: A Gap or a Chasm?"

 

 

Jay Wants to Find New Friends

Explorer Jay explains that at his age he has lost many of his close friends who are men, and he is seeking advice on how to find ways to make like-minded friends regardless of age.

Listen to: "Jay Wants to Find New Friends"

 

finding new friends

 

How these Explorers Stay in Touch with Family & Friends

Explorer Anna is wanting to know the services or devices that people use to stay connected with friends or family and assure their safety.

Listen to: "How these Explorers Stay in Touch with Family & Friends"

 

keeping contact, assuring safety

 

Lacking a Reason to Get Up in the Morning

An explorer wonders how to respond to her 81-year old mother who is inactive in her retirement years, and appears to feel a loss of purpose.

Listen to: "Lacking a Reason to Get Up in the Morning"

 

Active retirement

 

What Matters Most as our World Constricts? (3)

The Saratoga explorer circle tackles the topic: What Matters Most, as it becomes harder to get out of the house?

Listen to: "What Matters Most as our World Constricts? (3)"

 

what matters as our world shrinks

 

What Matters Most as our World Constricts? (2)

The Commonwealth Club explorer circle tackles the topic: What Matters Most, as it becomes harder to get out of the house?

Listen to: "What Matters Most as our World Constricts? (2)"

 

what matters part 2

 

What Matters Most as Our World Constricts (1)?

This explorer circle tackles the topic: What Matters Most, as it becomes harder to get out of the house?

Listen to: "What Matters Most as Our World Constricts (1)?"

 

what matters

 

Long Distance Caregiving Methods Studied

An Explorer whose mother lives in the U.K. uses Facebook to stay in touch, but worries that she might be relying too much on Facebook when there might be better ways to keep up the relationship.

Another seeks to make sure that besides remote communication, there is a local group of people...

Listen to: "Long Distance Caregiving Methods Studied"

 

long distance caregiving

 

Topic Hub

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Social Isolation and Loneliness have attracted lots of media attention recently due to the large negative impact that being lonely and lacking human interactions can have on quality of life. This is our "Topic Hub" where we collect our research and exploration into Loneliness and Social Isolation. We are especially focused on ways to combat loneliness and avoid social isolation.

Read: "Social Isolation and Loneliness"

 

 

About the Impact Theme Series

Our Longevity Explorers (hundreds of older adults with ages ranging from 60-95 years old) meet regularly to discuss topics at the intersection of aging and technology.

Among the many topics we discuss in these meetings, we have been exploring some specific themes which we think are going to be very important for older adults in the future, and which in our opinion are ripe for innovation. These make up our Impact Themes, and Social Isolation and Loneliness is one of these themes.

In these discussions:

  • We share how we do things today;
  • We explore and critique existing products;
  • We talk about challenges we have that we wish products could solve; and
  • We dream up product concepts we wish someone like you would develop.

If you are developing products or services for older adults in the category of Social Isolation and Loneliness, listen to the Longevity Explorer discussions on this page to get insights about how to develop better products and services for older adults.

More Explorer Discussions

 

Researcher Membership

Some of the discussions require a premium Researcher Membership to listen to the audio recording.

Learn about Premium Researcher Memberships.

Topics (broader coverage of this theme): 
Aging in place, Social Interactions