Loneliness is prevalent among older adults and can lead to serious health problems. But existing and emerging digital platforms can offer a solution to this growing issue.

More than half of older adults said they felt loneliness and social isolation last year. Nearly 57% reported feelings of isolation in 2021, a jump from 27% just two years earlier.

There are several causes of loneliness. But part of the reason for this trend is that people tend to live alone in their old age. Nearly 21% of older men and 34% of older women live independently.

Other causes of loneliness include moving to a new location, divorce, or the death of someone significant.

Loneliness can have serious health consequences. When Louise Hawkley and John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago studied loneliness, they drew a causal link between loneliness and increased morbidity and mortality.

And loneliness was found to have an accrual effect. For instance, the more people felt lonely, the more likely they were to experience cardiovascular disease.

People who experience loneliness have a 59% greater risk of mental health and physical decline, too.

But digital platforms can offer a solution to solve loneliness. There are many ways that digital media can help reduce loneliness and social isolation in older adults. For one, online social networking platforms can help people connect with friends and family members who live far away. These platforms also allow people to stay connected with friends and family members who may not be able to physically meet up often.

Some platforms also provide a range of activities and opportunities for social interaction, including online forums and discussion groups. Digital platforms can also provide a space for people to share their thoughts and experiences, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

There are plenty of current and emerging technologies that could help tackle loneliness in older people.

Health issues caused by loneliness

Loneliness predisposes people to several health issues and health conditions and can even weaken our immune system. For example, the CDC reports that loneliness can increase a person’s risk factors of premature death of all causes. In fact, social isolation and loneliness could rival risks posed by smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity.

Further, neuroscience research suggests loneliness comes with a 50% increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a 29% increased risk of heart disease, and a 32% increased risk of stroke. According to the CDC, lonely people are also more likely to experience depression and anxiety.

Other health problems associated with loneliness include high blood pressure. In fact, loneliness could increase blood pressure by the same amount that weight loss and physical activity could decrease it. Lonely people’s blood pressure is as much as 30 points higher than the average non-lonely American.

Loneliness is, therefore, a severe public health issue that needs to be tackled. Moreover, it can have severe consequences on the American healthcare system – not to mention globally – if a solution is not found.

Signs of loneliness

Many seniors live alone and don’t realize when loneliness creeps up on them. The Covid-19 pandemic, especially, severely limited social connections. Many older people often had to go for months without seeing their loved ones and close friends in person.

UCLA developed a loneliness scale to help people measure their own subjective feelings of loneliness. People rank how closely they align with statements like “I have nobody to talk to” or “My social relationships are superficial.” The higher the score, the higher they are on the loneliness scale.

Loneliness severely affects people’s well-being and self-esteem, so it is crucial to identify it. Some other signs that you or a loved one are experiencing loneliness include:

• Mood swings – If your moods change constantly and you lose your temper quickly, this could be a sign of loneliness and its impact on your mental well-being.

• Difficulty communicating – Are you struggling to communicate with people when you socialize? Perhaps you trail off, never finishing a thought. Or maybe you forget what you wanted to say mid-sentence.
• Lack of self-care – Have you been neglecting your appearance lately? Perhaps you feel like no one is going to see you anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you’ve brushed your hair, ironed and washed your clothes, or even taken a shower? Letting your personal appearance go is a sign of depression as well as loneliness.
• Increased purchases – Research suggests loneliness contributes to feelings of materialism, where people find happiness in possessions. So if you are spending more and more time scrolling through Amazon and making impulse purchases, this could be a sign you’re experiencing loneliness.
• Poor sleep – People who experience loneliness and social isolation are more likely to experience poor sleep as well, according to researchers. Lonely people experienced more insomnia and sleep disruption than their counterparts. So if you’ve been having trouble falling asleep lately, loneliness may be to blame.
• Excessive hot showers or baths – While this seems oddly specific, researchers have found a link between physical warmth and social connections. Some people substitute social connections with physical warmth. So if you’re finding yourself taking long, hot showers, this may be a sign you’re experiencing loneliness.

If you are experiencing these signs, you may be experiencing loneliness. Lonely individuals may lack the social networks necessary to sustain social contact. The disconnection that follows results in loneliness which comes with heightened health risks.

Meta-analysis of studies spanning decades conducted by Professor John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago suggested that loneliness could result from poor social cognition where people have incorrect assumptions about themselves and how people perceive them.

The key to helping lonely people, according to Cacioppo, is to help them approach social situations with a more positive attitude.

However, the advent of the internet has provided a potential solution for loneliness. People can now build social relationships via existing and emerging digital platforms.

Existing Digital Platforms

Several platforms are already tackling loneliness in older people and the general population. Some focus on providing a space for people with common interests to meet and talk. In contrast, others aim to bridge the gap between older and younger people or use virtual reality as an intervention designed to tackle chronic loneliness.

Meetup

Meetup is a website that connects people with common interests. Anyone can sign up for the platform and set up a book club, for example. People in the local area searching for book clubs will come across the listing and get in touch if they are interested. Then, the meetings happen off-platform, usually in a physical location.

During the pandemic, many meetings moved online. Still, the sense of community and camaraderie formed through bonding over shared interests remained.

YouTube

While YouTube is a streaming platform where people primarily consume content, it has been shown to reduce loneliness because of the diverse range of videos available on the platform.

Some types of videos make people feel like they’re spending time with others, particularly videos where people are showing their daily routines, playing video games, or even filming themselves having dinner. Additionally, YouTube comes with its own communities that fans of creators can get involved with and bond over.

Replika

Replika is a digital platform that provides an AI companion that’s always there to listen and talk. Unlike standard chatbots, people can create their own Replika AI bot that they talk to every day.

The AI companion then ‘remembers’ things shared and uses it to improve the experience. Sometimes, it’ll bring up a ‘memory’; other times, it’ll get introspective and talk about emotions and feelings that have been shared.

People can also set the tone for the conversation, from ‘friendly’ to ‘introspective questions’ to ‘talking sports.’ There are many options depending on the type of conversation that users want to have.

While an AI companion is no replacement for real social support, it could reduce levels of loneliness.

Alcove

Alcove describes itself as a family-orientated virtual reality app. Its mission is to bring intergenerational families together.

It is available on Oculus Quest and simulates a virtual home where users can decorate their environment with family photos and ‘invite’ family members and friends over. They can then play board games or bingo together or even watch a movie.

Alcove means friends and family members who live far away from each other can still have experiences other than the occasional video chat.

There are other experiences too, and users can ‘travel’ to Thailand, move their home to the mountains or the ocean, and attend guided meditations, too.

KOMP

Komp was designed to bridge the gap between older and younger people by providing technologically-challenged people with a ‘one-button computer.’

Komp has its own app, the Komp app, that allows families of older people to send photos, initiate phone calls, and send messages. All the older person has to do is press a button to turn the screen on.

The device can be wall-mounted like a TV and comes with a great sound system, so older people can simply sit on their sofa, view photos as they’re being sent in real-time, and talk to their loved ones at the same time.

Its selling points are its lack of complicated features like touchscreens, usernames, passwords, or complex updates. Instead, it has been kept simple to make it easy for older generations to stay in touch with their families and avoid loneliness.

Circle Talk

Circle Talk exists both online and offline. At its core, it is a training program for community leaders and caregivers who want to facilitate meetings to allow deep connections between older people.

Each week, a community of people discusses a thought-provoking theme. Poems, short stories, and other props are shared, and people then have a lively discussion sharing their thoughts. It is designed to move beyond the small talk and inspire meaningful connections with others.

The groups can take place in a physical setting but are often held virtually, allowing people who live remotely or are otherwise unable to attend due to health or mobility issues to take part.

The metaverse and loneliness

The metaverse is a term used to describe an online virtual world that allows people to interact and socialize. It refers to a shift in how we interact with technology. It suggests a much more immersive experience. Alcove is an example of technology used in the metaverse.

This shift to technology would see virtual reality become mainstream. Virtual worlds will continue to exist while people are not connected, but they can plug in and continue whenever they like.

People who are too anxious, remote, or immobile to interact with the physical world can interact with real people in this virtual reality.

The metaverse could be a potential solution for loneliness in older adults, as it could help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

The metaverse offers a sense of community and connection that is often missing from the lives of older adults. For example, it could connect them with others who have gone through similar experiences or offer advice and support.

Digital platforms as a means to prevent loneliness

As our population ages, we must find new ways to combat the growing issue of loneliness, so everyone has the opportunity to happily enjoy their golden years.

The potential benefits of using digital platforms are endless. For example, seniors will:

• Have better physical health outcomes
• Be less likely to suffer from dementia or mental health issues
• Be more likely to feel included in society

There are existing digital platforms that could prevent loneliness right now. From social media to websites like Meetup to advanced chatbots like Replika, the options are endless. This could go a long way towards ensuring older people do not feel isolated from society.

But there is an emerging technology and digital platform that could help tackle loneliness in a way that other media have not been able to so far. The metaverse could be a great way to tackle loneliness. It would provide an immersive virtual reality experience that can bridge the gap between older people and younger people, providing opportunities for social interaction and emotional support that aren’t accessible to everyone in society currently.

How the AgeVerse will help

Here at Age Group, we’re building an accessible digital universe for seniors – the AgeVerse – which will provide the world’s over 50s with everything they need to avoid loneliness, tackle feelings of loneliness they’re already experiencing, and live life to the fullest.

In addition to providing resources around identifying and escaping loneliness, Age Group will invite the world’s seniors to:

• Participate in our global community and take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people both online and in “real life”
• Enjoy a range of deals and discounts that will help them get more out of life with the help of some of the world’s best-loved brands
• Contribute new ideas for the future growth of our community and platforms – community is a two-way street and we want to put our members at the heart of what we’re building