Elderly Helper
Fact
The Impact of Social Isolation on the Health of Elderly
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As shown in the chart, social isolation significantly increases the risk of developing certain diseases.
Socially isolated adults are about twice as likely to die in a given year as those who are more socially connected.
A large meta-analysis of over 300,000 people found that individuals with stronger social connections had about a 50% higher likelihood of survival than those who were more socially isolated .
43 percent of adults aged 60 and older reported feeling lonely.
Effect of Interventions
1. CareMore Health – Togetherness Program
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CareMore Health’s Togetherness Program supports socially isolated older adults through Phone Pal check-ins, home visits, and using care centers as social hubs.
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Among participants, emergency room use fell by 3.3% and hospital admissions per thousand members were 20.8% lower than in the control group.
2. UnitedHealthcare – Navigate4Me
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UnitedHealthcare’s Navigate4Me program pairs older adults with complex health conditions with a health navigator who guides them through the medical system and connects them to social resources.
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For people living with congestive heart failure, the program has been associated with a 14% reduction in hospitalizations and a 9% reduction in emergency room visits.