The South Florida Sun Sentinel published an op-ed on Sunday, April 13 by Gail Matillo, president and CEO of the Florida Senior Living Association, on the epidemic of loneliness among seniors and the importance of socialization.
The letter, "Social isolation has serious health implications for the elderly," calls attention to the Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief (SENIOR) Act (S. 473), recently introduced by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), the Aging Committee Chairman to promote ways to help more seniors stay connected. The legislation would 1) add “loneliness” to the definition of “disease prevention and health promotion services” under the Older Americans Act; 2) direct HHS to report on the impacts of loneliness on seniors and propose solutions; and 3) Analyze the relationship between the strength of multigenerational family units, loneliness, and seniors.
Matillo's op-ed highlights how assisted living communities combat loneliness, pointing to data showing that seniors who previously lived alone would “blossom” after moving into a community, with 75% of residents reporting an improved health outlook after moving into our communal setting. Additional data from a US News survey released last month found that 61% of residents said their feelings of loneliness or isolation improved after moving into a senior living community, and 85% of seniors have made friends since moving into a senior living community.
The op-ed comes a month after Argentum President and CEO James Balda testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging for a hearing, "Breaking the Cycle of Senior Loneliness: Strengthening Family and Community Support." Our testimony focused on the role that senior living communities play in fostering social connections, enhancing well-being, and improving quality of life for seniors, and shared personal stories about how our social model of care has directly benefited residents.
Argentum has long promoted the importance of socialization in senior living communities to combat isolation and its associated mental and physical health complications. Argentum also supports the Care Across Generations Act (H.R. 1812), reintroduced in March by Reps. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) and Bryan Steil (R-WI) to provide grants for long-term care communities to co-locate childcare centers to foster connection among seniors and children.
Matillo closes her op-ed noting that, "The cost-benefit of the SENIOR Act makes immediate sense. The detriments of loneliness, both disease prevention and mental decline, can be abated, and billions in health care dollars could be saved, by something that requires no medical degree or costly medical procedure. We can end this epidemic by simply making a human connection. Scott’s bill will jumpstart that connection."
The South Florida Sun Sentinel serves Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
