Community Solutions recently joined the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services Annual Meeting to discuss a topic that reaches across demographic groups and can have devastating impacts on the wellbeing of both the individual and community: Social Isolation and Loneliness.
Emily Campbell opened the conversation by asking those gathered a simple question to reflect on our community connections. “Who can you borrow a cup of sugar from?” Then a series of deeper inquiries:
- How many people could you ask?
- Could you walk or will it require a drive to get the sugar?
- Do you feel comfortable asking?
- Do you have people who ask you for sugar?
- Are you open to an ongoing bartering relationship?
- Will you share the cookies you made with the sugar?
How you answer these questions offers a good read on your personal relationship with social isolation or loneliness.
Social isolation and loneliness are related, but separate concepts.
Through recent needs assessments Community Solutions has conducted in the community, we have learned that feelings of loneliness and being socially isolated are unfortunately commonplace and not limited to any single demographic group. Data from a Community Health Needs Assessment in Lakewood was drawn from a demographically diverse survey population representative of the city and shows the presence of both isolation and loneliness among residents.
Social Isolation and Loneliness
One surprising finding in data provided through the Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey is that the rate of loneliness differs among age groups for women in Cuyahoga County. Younger women are the most likely to report feelings of loneliness and rates mostly decrease with age.
Woman aged over 75 are the least likely to report feelings of loneliness.
One reason for the decrease in loneliness in age—particularly after age 60—could be the result of the very intentional work the aging network has done to keep this population connected. Senior centers, senior specific hours in community gathering places, life-long learning opportunities, volunteer groups, faith-based activities – all of these and more are targeted to older adults. And it is working to keep connections strong. It is a reminder that we have much to learn from our elders, including how to stay connected in ways that ward off loneliness and isolation.
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