“Loneliness, it seems, holds him like a buttonhole.”
Loneliness has been officially recognized as a global public health concern by the World Health Organization. The pandemic underscored the issue, with widespread social isolation bringing attention to the prevalence of loneliness. Many individuals continue to grapple with its lingering effects, and within the healthcare sector, those in residential care have been notably affected, as I discussed in a 2020 article.
The tangible physical health risks linked to loneliness are significant. Studies show that loneliness is correlated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia and a 30% increased risk of incident coronary artery disease or stroke.
Addressing loneliness isn't a straightforward task, as there is no one-size-fits-all "cure." However, various innovative solutions, some leveraging technology, aim to foster companionship. For instance, Meetup serves as a "people platform" organizing events based on shared interests. Innovative technologies like ElliQ specifically target seniors or socially isolated individuals, offering promising approaches to alleviate loneliness.
Recognizing and tackling the far-reaching consequences of loneliness on public health is essential. Through the adoption of innovative solutions and actively nurturing a sense of community, we can collaboratively strive for a society that is healthier and more interconnected.
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11 个月Tara, thanks for sharing!
Co-Founder & COO, Advisor & Board Member, and Retired PwC & IBM Global Partner
1 年Insightful post Tara! Thank you. We’re on it at thisspace (https://about.thisspace.io/), rolled out in the Bay Area, starting in Minneapolis, then to Colorado to assist community members to have meaningful social in-person interactions. It will literally “take the whole Village” to address the scale of loneliness and isolation.