Solving the Problem of Social Isolation, COVID-19 and Older Adults

By Nathan Boucher and Anna Muthalaly

“Waking up today I feel a bit unsteady. That’s become normal for me. My wife was the one getting me moving each morning, and now that she’s gone seven months, I sleep much later than usual. I’m thrown off, and then I remember why no one woke me up this morning.

I wash up slowly. I get downstairs slowly. I make breakfast slowly. Give me a break — I am 71! Breakfast used to be my favorite meal — I only made it on weekends, something my family looked forward to. Most days I settle for a bowl of cereal now.

My two kids are great; they always come home for holidays. But no holidays coming up. They have their own families; I don’t want to bother then, you know. I know how it is. Besides, this virus keeps visitors away. I am lonely; this house is too quiet.

(Phone rings) It’s Jonathan, he’s coming over today. I’m surprised I’ve forgotten. We’ve only been talking for a few months; it’s the highlight of my week.

It was my primary care physician assistant that got me involved with Johnny. When my pressure shot up after my wife’s passing, he asked me how often I saw people. “Hardly ever,” I said. He signed me up for this program for old folks without much social interaction. He told me too much alone time could be dangerous.

I was ashamed to need people to talk to. Before I actually met anyone, I got a call from the organization asking me some questions about myself. They asked me about my interests, they asked about my family, they even asked where I went to school years ago!

It turned out Johnny was attending the college I went to. He liked the Cubs. In our first phone call, we talked for an hour. It was one of the best days I’ve had since my wife passed.

Now, Johnny calls every week. He’s been talking about setting me up on camera so we could see each other while we talk, but for now the phone, and once every few weeks Johnny drops in. We watch the games, or he tells me what he’s doing at school. He plays baseball. I like to remember when I played, too.

I look at the cereal box, I put it back. I’ll make something nicer for Johnny and me. Eggs, toast and coffee it is…”

We are a gerontologist and a student studying health policies related to aging, and the scenario above, while fictional, is quite representative of the lives of older adults being served in our communities each day.

During COVID-19, many realize what older Americans have known for years: social isolation can have negative effects on health. All too often, older Americans don’t get the social interaction they need as humans to stay healthy. Without those interactions, people are at higher risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.

Telephone and video communications can enhance quality of life for people and act as a safety net. Investing in communications for older people can make a genuine impact on problems we associate with aging.

The US has funded programs, like those delivered by AmeriCorps, and limited senior outreach exists in pockets across the country. Expanded older adult outreach programs could be delivered in much the same way — by volunteers looking to help. Participants might be referred by their healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, veteran’s services organizations, and area aging services. This can and should be a national program.

We could connect older adults seeking connection to others willing to laugh and share some of life’s journey. Further benefits might include early attention to health which could avoid stressful and expensive hospitalizations. This preventive approach may be of interest to healthcare organizations, insurers, and tax payers.

Isolation can be draining; many of us are learning tools to combat those effects. Through community organizing and technology utilization, we can help our most vulnerable community members.

Dr. Nathan Boucher is a gerontologist and faculty at Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy and School of Medicine. Ms. Muthalaly is an undergraduate student at Duke University.