In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a national epidemic. In 2024, a poll by the American Psychiatric Association found that 30% of Americans felt lonely at least weekly over the past year. This percentage is even higher among older adults, with 43% of those aged 60 or older experiencing loneliness. In a world full of connection, we are feeling increasingly disconnected—a reality that significantly affects our health and well-being.
According to a 2020 article published by the Tulane University School of Public Health, social isolation has been linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Another study published by the National Academies of Sciences that same year reported that social isolation is associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia, a 29% increased risk of coronary heart disease, and a 32% increased risk of stroke. In fact, social isolation has been linked to an increased risk of premature death from all causes.
There’s no question about it: we need to be around other people.
The silver lining to the epidemic of loneliness is that the solution is as simple as the problem: human beings require connection. According to an article published by UC Berkeley’s Executive Education program, quality personal relationships improve physical and mental health, provide a sense of belonging, teach empathy, enhance cultural understanding, increase self-awareness, and can even boost work performance.
See? Simple. Now go connect with people. You’re welcome.
Fostering real connections with others has arguably never been more daunting. An article posted by Seattle Anxiety, a Seattle-based psychotherapy practice, explains that 15 million adults in America are diagnosed with social anxiety disorder every year. However, this number is likely much higher, as 36% of those suffering from the disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 years or more before seeking help.
While the root cause of this increase in social anxiety isn’t certain, many experts point to social media.
“Because social media inherently offers us so many methods for connection that don’t require face-to-face interaction, our over-reliance on it is causing us to become more socially anxious every year,” writes Jordan Rich of Seattle Anxiety.
Another major contributor to increased social anxiety was the COVID-19 pandemic. Much like social media, the pandemic forced us to replace genuine, in-person interactions with virtual ones. We were isolated, physically distant, and unable to read one another’s facial expressions. Connection wasn’t our priority, and we are suffering for it.
“People have grown accustomed to not having to interact in person,” writes Rich.
In adult day services, our participants are typically older adults, individuals living with disabilities, those experiencing cognitive decline, or those struggling with mental health conditions. These groups are among the most vulnerable to loneliness and isolation.
The wonderful thing about BetterWay and other high-quality adult day centers is that we inherently foster interaction, socialization, and connection among these adults. A quality adult day center trains its staff not only to connect with participants but also to help them connect with one another.
As staff and caregivers, we play a primary role in forming meaningful connections with our participants every day. By creating and reinforcing a culture that values the inherent worth of every human being, we establish an environment where participants feel safe, welcomed, respected, and heard. We set the standard for how people in our center treat one another and themselves.
We take the time to get to know each individual, learning their stories and incorporating them into our daily experiences. While connection is a fundamental part of the therapeutic experience for our participants, it’s not just a job for us. After all, we are living in the same connection-starved world, and we get as much out of these relationships as we put into them.
Helping adult day center participants form genuine relationships is more complex than we initially imagined. We assumed that putting people in a room with fun activities would naturally lead to social bonding. We were very wrong.
Adult day centers are incredibly unique environments filled with people of varying backgrounds, experiences, and conditions. The only common thread among them is that they need support. It’s easy to recognize that an 86-year-old living with Alzheimer’s and a 24-year-old with Autism are vastly different, but what’s even more surprising is how different two individuals with the same diagnosis can be.
We were naive to think that shared medical conditions alone would lead to connection. Beyond this, we must navigate challenges such as hearing impairments, communication barriers, aphasia, generational gaps, social quirks, and other hurdles that make forming relationships more difficult for our participants.
So, how do we help such a diverse group of people form meaningful relationships?
1. We Create a Social Atmosphere
We prioritize group activities whenever possible. These allow participants to interact naturally, without the pressure of one-on-one conversation. By simply overhearing each other, bumping elbows, and sharing experiences, participants begin to form genuine bonds.
2. We Find Common Ground
We take time to learn about each participant’s personality, interests, and hobbies. From there, we identify games, activities, or conversation topics that foster connection. Sometimes it takes creativity—Bob loves cars, and Kim loves to paint? Let’s paint a picture of cars.
3. We Step Aside
When we notice a spark between two participants, we give it space to grow. This might mean taking an extra lap on a walk so two gentlemen can continue their conversation or delaying snack time by five minutes so two ladies can finish their craft. We prioritize connection.
What’s the Point?
There is no question that loneliness is on the rise in America, negatively impacting our health and well-being. Thankfully, adult day services are a powerful tool in combating loneliness and isolation among vulnerable adults. These centers provide connection and community to those who need it most.
References
Mance, G. (2022). The Growth of Mental Health Awareness. Howard Magazine.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Available from: NCBI.
UC Berkeley Executive Education. (n.d.). The Importance of Connections on Our Well-Being. Read more.
Tulane University School of Public Health. (2020). Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health. Read more.
Thompson, J. (2023). Exploring the Recent Rise of Social Anxiety Disorder. Seattle Anxiety. Read more.
Will Daugherty is the director of BetterWay Adult Day Center in Yukon, OK. He studied health services management at the University of Maryland Global Campus, is a licensed adult day care administrator, and is an Air Force veteran.
