Loneliness and Social Isolation Persist Among Older Adults Despite Pre-Pandemic Recovery

While loneliness and social isolation among older adults have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the rates remain concerning. More than one-third of people aged 50 to 80 reported feeling lonely in 2024, according to a new study published in JAMA. The findings show that older adults facing mental or physical health challenges experience significantly higher rates of loneliness and isolation, highlighting the need for clinical attention.

Loneliness and Isolation Trends Over Time
The study, drawing on six years of data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), found that in 2024, 33% of older adults reported feeling lonely “some of the time” or “often,” nearly identical to 34% in 2018. Meanwhile, 29% of older adults said they felt socially isolated, slightly up from 27% pre-pandemic.

These rates had peaked during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when 42% of respondents reported loneliness, and 56% experienced isolation. However, the numbers have gradually declined each year since.

Vulnerable Groups: Who Is Most Affected?
The data highlights key groups who are disproportionately affected by loneliness and isolation in 2024:

• 75% of adults with fair or poor mental health reported loneliness (74% in 2018).
• 53% of those with fair or poor physical health reported loneliness (up from 50% in 2018).
• 52% of individuals receiving disability income (excluding retirees) reported loneliness, a sharp increase from 38% in 2018.

The same groups also reported higher rates of social isolation. For example:

• 77% of adults with fair or poor mental health experienced isolation (consistent with 79% in 2018).
• 52% of those with fair or poor physical health reported isolation (up from 43%).
• 50% of those receiving disability income reported isolation (up from 36%).

In contrast, older adults reporting excellent or good mental and physical health, or those who are employed or retired, experienced loneliness and isolation at rates significantly lower than these vulnerable groups.

Clinical Relevance: What Should Be Done?
Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., director of the NPHA, stressed the importance of addressing these issues in healthcare settings. “Clinicians should see loneliness and isolation as a key factor in their patients’ lives, especially those with serious physical or mental health conditions,” he said.

Kullgren recommended proactive screening for loneliness and isolation and connecting patients to community-based resources. “We should consider screening our patients for these issues and connecting them with resources in their communities, whether that's a senior center, Veterans' groups, volunteering opportunities, or services offered by an Area Agency on Aging or other community organizations,” he added.

Key Subgroups: Age, Income, and Living Situation
The study also revealed that:

• Adults aged 50 to 64 were more likely to report loneliness and isolation than those aged 65 to 80.
• Individuals with household incomes below $60,000 faced higher rates of loneliness and isolation than those with higher incomes.
• Adults living alone were more likely to report loneliness or isolation compared to those living with others. However, rates among those living alone have declined in 2024 compared to earlier years.

A Call to Action: Addressing Loneliness and Isolation
The findings reinforce the critical importance of addressing loneliness and isolation among older adults. Programs like the AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect offer tools and resources to help older adults build connections and combat social isolation.

For healthcare providers, routine screening and referrals to local organizations—such as senior centers, volunteering groups, and Area Agencies on Aging—can help mitigate the negative health effects of loneliness and isolation as the population ages.

While returning to pre-pandemic levels represents progress, the study underscores that baseline rates remain unacceptably high, particularly for vulnerable subgroups.