Could retirement living communities tackle later-life loneliness?

Loneliness is often called the “silent epidemic.” Though it can affect anyone, older adults are especially vulnerable. Extended loneliness increases risks of depression, dementia, and heart disease.

In Canada, nearly 20 % of seniors 65 and over reported feeling lonely in 2019-2020. In the U.S., about one-third of adults aged 50-80 say they feel lonely at least some of the time. These aren’t small numbers, they point to something urgent.

Retirement communities and senior centres are in a unique position to help combat the issue which is a problem for many. Here are some stats to show how widespread the problem is in Canada, and the USA.

In Canada, about 19.2 % of older adults aged 65+ reported feeling lonely in 2019-2020. Statistics Canada

More generally in Canada, 43 % of people aged 50+ are at risk of social isolation, and up to 59 % have experienced loneliness. Government of Canada

In the United States, recent data (aged 50-80) show about 33-34 % of older adults feel lonely some or often in the past year. JAMA Network+2University of Michigan Health+2

On social isolation in the U.S., roughly 29 % of people age 50-80 report feeling isolated “some of the time or often.” healthyagingpoll.org+1

These figures suggest that loneliness and isolation are widespread among older adults in North America, not just the UK.

In the posts that follow, I will explore what the world’s longest-living communities can teach us about belonging, how shared activities bring people together, and how independence and connection can exist side by side.