Loneliness affects millions of older adults across North America, often quietly, often painfully. Yet it’s not an inevitable part of ageing. Discover why loneliness has become a public health issue and how community connection can change the story.
When Mike retired,
she expected his days to feel full, more reading, more gardening, and more time
with friends. But as the months went by, his calendar grew quieter. Friends
moved away, family became busier, and the house that once felt cozy now felt
empty.
Mike’s story is
more common than we think. Across North America, millions of older adults
are living with loneliness, often quietly, and often with serious
consequences.
In Canada, nearly 1
in 5 seniors (19.2%) report feeling lonely, while 43% of adults aged 50
and older are at risk of social isolation. In the United States, about one-third
of adults aged 50–80 say they feel lonely at least some of the time.
The World Health
Organization has called loneliness a global public health concern,
warning that its impact on health can be as harmful as smoking or obesity. It
raises the risk of depression, dementia, and even heart disease.
But loneliness is
not inevitable. Across Canada and the U.S., senior centres and retirement
living communities are showing what’s possible when connection becomes part
of daily life. They offer friendship, purpose, laughter, and a sense of
belonging, things that are just as important to health as diet and exercise.
No one should age
alone. In the next part of the series, I will explore what the world’s
longest-living communities can teach us about belonging, and how those lessons
can transform life right here at home.
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