Barriers to Older Adults Remaining Social: Lessons Learned From the Pandemic Social isolation has always been a common issue for older adults, but became even more recognizable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few years, we have seen the negative effects of loved ones being kept alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended periods of social isolation have resulted in an uptick in hospitalization of older adults due to health concerns, and an increase in depression and anxiety disorders across all ages, especially in older adults. Pandemic restrictions contributed to stress level hitting an all-time high, while at the same time lowering access to the social supports older adults and caregivers rely on for respite and building social connections. Read more
