Social Isolation Effects: How It Impacts Seniors' Health

According to a January 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, 16% or one in six Americans feel lonely or isolated from others around them. In many cases, social isolation is the culprit behind loneliness and a risk factor in other mental and physical health conditions.

Anyone can experience adverse social isolation effects, but older adults are at a higher risk, especially those living alone.

So, if you or an older loved one lives alone, it's vital to be aware of the effects of social isolation on elderly adults. Equipping yourself with adequate knowledge can help you better combat this problem and the many other health issues it can bring.

To that end, the caring team at The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, our senior living community in Brooklyn, NY, put together this guide on social isolation. We'll discuss its adverse effects and share senior wellness tips to combat and prevent it, so please read on.

Social Isolation Effects: Common Health Problems Linked With Isolation

Social isolation happens when a person lacks relationships, social and emotional support, and contact with others. It can cause physical and mental health problems that are harmful to people of all ages. However, it can be even more dangerous to older adults whose health may already be diminishing due to age-related concerns.

Here are some of the most common health problems and risks of social isolation.

Loneliness

Social isolation and loneliness are two senior mental health concerns that often go hand in hand. After all, when people lack relationships and communication with others, they cannot satisfy the basic human need for socialization or interaction. As a result, people who experience loneliness feel:

  • Alone
  • Empty
  • Unwanted
  • No sense of belonging

According to a May 2024 article published in Jama Network, a 2023 national poll found that 34% of U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 admitted feeling socially isolated, while 37% experienced loneliness. It also pointed out that researchers associate loneliness with an increased risk for health conditions such as:

  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Dementia
  • Mental health problems like anxiety and depression

Heart Disease and Stroke

Social isolation and loneliness can raise a person's stress levels and feelings of anxiety. As Yale Medicine explains, chronic stress can result in the following:

  • Higher inflammation levels in the body
  • Plaque build-up in the arteries
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) that develops from plaque build-up
  • Abnormal heart rhythms, heart attack, heart failure, or stroke due to CAD

Socially isolated older adults may also have a higher risk for heart disease as they may engage in unhealthy behaviors such as poor diet and a lack of physical activity.

Dementia

Dementia is a collective term for various brain disorders that impair a person's cognitive skills, which include:

  • Attention, including concentration, listening, and multitasking
  • Memory, including the ability to store, retain, and recall information
  • Logic and reasoning, the ability to form concepts, make conclusions, and solve problems
  • Visual and auditory processing, including the skills necessary to perceive and assess visual and auditory information

According to a study published in Oxford University Press, several factors link social isolation with a person's increased risk of dementia, including:

  • Behavioral factors, such as smoking and alcohol use
  • Physical factors like cardiovascular disease
  • Psychological factors, including depression and anxiety

Mental Health Problems

Social isolation, especially if experienced with loneliness, can affect nearly all aspects of a person's mental health. Mental health encompasses both cognitive and emotional health. So, older adults who experience social isolation and feel lonely may also develop anxiety and depression.

Better Emotional Health for Seniors: Tips for Combatting Isolation

Considering that social isolation can lead to many adverse physical and health effects, it can undoubtedly reduce older adults' overall quality of life. The good news is that several effective strategies exist for maintaining social engagement and preventing loneliness in seniors. Here are some of them.

Inviting Family and Friends Over

Seniors who feel alone and down may easily get tempted to think that no one wants to visit them. However, family, friends, and neighbors often appreciate receiving an invitation to come and spend quality bonding time.

Staying In Touch With Family and Friends

Regularly chatting with relatives and friends over the phone is the next best thing to being with them physically. For older adults whose family and friends live far away, personal computers, smartphones, or tablets provide an excellent way to stay in touch. Communication apps like Facetime and WhatsApp are great connectivity tools, as they allow seniors to make video calls with their loved ones.

Transitioning to a Senior Living Community

Older adults, especially those living alone, can considerably benefit from transitioning to a reputable senior living community, such as The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn, NY. In our community, we offer several senior housing options, including:

  • Independent living for seniors who want to lead maintenance-free lifestyles and be closer to people their age
  • Assisted living care for older adults who also want the above but need help with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs)
  • Memory care for seniors with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, and need specialized personal care

At The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, all our residents enjoy access to many engaging physical, social, and recreational activities and amenities, including:

  • Creative classes, such as photography, drawing, painting, and cake decorating
  • Learning programs, such as floral design or Spanish classes
  • Personal fitness and exercise, from yoga to tai chi and water aerobics
  • Card and board games
  • Spa and salon services
  • On-site social dining with nutritious, delicious meals

Stay Socially Connected and Engaged at The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights

From loneliness to heart disease, dementia, and depression, these are just some of the many ways social isolation effects can impact seniors' physical and mental well-being.

At The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights, all our professional team members dedicate themselves to ensuring our older residents get as much socialization, recreation, and physical engagement as possible through a robust calendar of activities and events. So, once you or your older loved one decides to transition to independent living, assisted living, or memory care, look no further than our senior living community in Brooklyn, NY.

Speak with us today to schedule a tour and discover the difference we can make in your or your older loved one's golden years!

Recent Posts