Older adults (60 and over)

Later life can bring wonderful freedom. It can also bring losses that pile up: a spouse, close friends, a job, good hearing, the car keys. Each one can shrink your world a little, and loneliness can creep in quietly.

Many older adults are not lonely at all. In a global Meta-Gallup survey, people 65 and older reported loneliness less often than younger adults. But older adults are more likely to be isolated. A National Academies report found that about 1 in 4U.S. adults 65 and older living in the community who are socially isolated (National Academies, 2020)As of February 27, 2020.Source: National Academies: Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults Americans 65 and older living in the community are socially isolated. If you feel alone, you are not the only one, and there are many free ways back to people.

Common reasons

• Retirement. Work gave you a reason to get up and people to talk to. See After retirement.
• Losing a spouse, siblings and friends. Grief and loneliness often come together. See Widowed or grieving.
• Hearing and vision loss. It gets tiring to follow conversations, so people slowly stop going out.
• Giving up driving. Without a car, even a trip to the store or a friend's house can feel out of reach.
• Health and mobility. Pain, falls or chronic illness can keep you home. See Disability and chronic illness.
• Family far away. Children and grandchildren may live in other cities or countries.
• Moving. Downsizing, moving near family or into senior housing means leaving neighbors behind.

Hearing: a step that's easy to overlook

Hearing loss is common and often goes untreated. When you can't follow the talk at dinner, it's natural to pull back.

A large U.S. study called ACHIEVE followed adults aged 70 to 84 with untreated hearing loss for three years. Those who got hearing care, including hearing aids and counseling, kept slightly larger social circles, and their loneliness rose a little less than in the comparison group. The researchers said the effects were modest and need more study, but hearing care is low-risk and may help.

What you can do:

• Ask your doctor for a hearing test, or ask about an audiologist.
• Since 2022, over-the-counter hearing aids have been sold in the U.S. for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, without a prescription. For more serious loss, see a hearing professional. Prices vary widely, so compare.
• Ask friends to face you, and choose quieter places to meet.
• Turn on captions on your TV and phone.

Have your eyes checked regularly too. Good vision helps you read, drive and stay steady on your feet.

Free and low-cost ways to connect

Senior centers

Many towns have a senior center (sometimes called an activity center or "center for active living"). They often offer meals, exercise classes, card games, trips, classes and help with forms. Most are free or low-cost. You don't have to be frail to go; many members are active and busy.

The Eldercare Locator and your Area Agency on Aging

The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116, or eldercare.acl.gov) is a free service from the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can call, text or search online. It connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging, which can tell you about:

• Friendly visitor programs, where a volunteer comes to see you regularly
• Telephone reassurance or friendly caller programs, where someone calls you on a schedule
• Rides and transportation help
• Meal programs, including group meals and home-delivered meals
• Help for caregivers

Talk lines

If you'd like someone to talk to by phone, see Someone to talk to: warmlines and friendship lines.

Classes and learning

Libraries, community colleges and Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (on many U.S. college campuses) offer classes for older learners. See After retirement and Groups, hobbies, classes and clubs.

Volunteering

Your skills and time are needed. Reading to children, mentoring, ushering at a theater, helping at a food pantry or a place of worship all bring regular contact. See Volunteering.

Mixing with younger people

Intergenerational programs bring older and younger people together, for example a preschool that shares a building with an adult day program, or students who visit or call older neighbors. Ask your senior center or library what they offer. See Loneliness across generations.

Faith communities

If you belong to a religious community, many have visiting programs, small groups, meals and rides. See Religious and spiritual communities.

Technology help

Video calls, messaging and online classes can keep you close to family and friends far away. If technology feels confusing, you are not alone, and help is free.

• Senior Planet from AARP, run by the nonprofit OATS, offers free online classes for older adults on using phones, computers, video calls and staying safe online (seniorplanet.org).
• Your public library often has one-on-one tech help.
• A younger relative or neighbor may be glad to help. Ask them to write the steps down for you.

Watch out for scams. Never send money, gift cards or personal details to someone you've only met online or by phone, no matter how kind they seem.

Getting around without driving

• Ask your Area Agency on Aging about senior rides or volunteer driver programs.
• Many transit systems offer reduced fares and door-to-door "paratransit" for people who qualify.
• Some faith communities and senior centers arrange carpools.

What to avoid

• Turning down every invitation because you're tired or it's a bother. Say yes to one thing a week.
• Hiding hearing or vision problems. Fixing them can make socializing much easier.
• Thinking it's too late. People make close friends in their 70s, 80s and 90s.

If sadness, poor sleep or loss of interest lasts more than a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor. Depression is common in later life, and it is treatable. See Depression and loneliness.

For families and caregivers

If you're worried about an older relative, see Lonely older relatives. For practical help with caring for an aging family member, from health care to money and housing, visit the sister site Aging Family Guide (opens in a new tab).