How Older Adults Can Stay Connected While Social Distancing
Because COVID-19 poses a higher risk to adults over 60, many older adults are choosing to self-isolate or are currently under lockdown in long-term care and skilled nursing communities.
Social distancing to protect high-risk groups—particularly adults aged 60 and older—is widely recommended, and it’s important to follow these public health guidelines.
However, social distancing can increase loneliness and isolation among older adults, especially those with chronic illnesses, who are already vulnerable to social isolation.
What is the risk of social isolation?
Research consistently links social isolation and loneliness to higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immune function, depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, dementia, and increased mortality.
According to the National Institute on Aging, people who become unexpectedly alone after the death of a partner, separation from friends or family, retirement, loss of mobility, or lack of transportation are at particular risk.
Conversely, people who engage in meaningful activities and social interactions tend to have better mood, a stronger sense of purpose, and longer lifespans.
That is why it’s essential to find safe ways for older adults to stay socially and mentally active during the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are practical, actionable tips to help older adults stay connected and supported during COVID-19.
8 Tips for Helping Older Adults Stay Connected During the Coronavirus Pandemic
1. Keep in touch with friends and family
Staying connected with close friends and family provides comfort and reassurance during uncertain times. Even when in-person visits aren’t possible, modern technology makes it easier to maintain meaningful contact.
Video calls using smartphones, tablets, or computers (for example FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype) can recreate face-to-face interaction. If video is not an option, regular telephone calls and voice messages are still very effective. The key is regular, consistent contact with the people who matter most.
2. Use free hotlines for older adults
The Friendship Line: 800-971-0016
The Friendship Line is a 24-hour hotline provided by the Institute on Aging. It offers friendship and emotional support for older adults who are lonely, isolated, grieving, depressed, anxious, or thinking about death or suicide. Caregivers and younger disabled adults can also call. Trained staff and volunteers make and receive calls to people in crisis or those who simply need a compassionate listener.
SAGE Hotline: 877-360-LGBT (5428)
SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) operates a free, toll-free hotline for LGBTQ older adults who may experience higher rates of loneliness and isolation. The hotline connects callers with friendly responders who are ready to listen. It is available 24/7 in English and Spanish, with translation in many additional languages.
3. Call your local Area Agency on Aging
Local Area Agencies on Aging can identify telephone-based or online supports available in your community. Use your older loved one’s ZIP code to find the nearest agency and contact them to learn about local resources, check-in programs, meal delivery, and volunteer services.
4. Contact local senior centers
Local senior centers may have staff or volunteers who can call older adults to check in and offer companionship. Your Area Agency on Aging can provide a list of nearby senior centers and their programs.
5. Reach out to religious institutions
Many people turn to spiritual support during stressful times. Contact your loved one’s church, synagogue, mosque, or other faith community to see whether clergy or volunteers are available to provide spiritual support and regular telephone check-ins.
6. Contact disease-specific organizations for chronic illness support
If an older adult has a chronic condition, contact the local chapter of a disease-specific organization for guidance, counseling, or volunteer support by phone. National organizations often have local chapters that can help with condition-specific resources:
- Alzheimer’s Association (dementia support)
- Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson’s disease support)
- American Stroke Association (stroke resources)
- American Heart Association (heart disease)
- American Diabetes Association (diabetes support)
- American Cancer Society (cancer support)
7. Ask about telehealth with existing mental health providers
If your older loved one already sees a mental health professional, ask whether they can provide appointments via telephone or secure video (telehealth or tele-mental health). Many clinicians have shifted to remote care to reduce exposure risk while maintaining continuity of care. Regular therapy sessions by phone or video can help manage anxiety, depression, grief, and other mental health concerns.
8. Consider online therapy apps
Online therapy platforms and apps offer convenient access to counseling by phone or video and may be helpful when in-person services are limited. These services can supplement support from friends, family, and local agencies. Examples of widely known platforms include Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Check whether the platform fits the older adult’s needs and whether it is accessible on their preferred device.
Staying socially connected during the coronavirus pandemic is essential for older adults’ physical and mental health. Combining regular personal contact, telephone hotlines, local aging services, faith-based outreach, condition-specific organizations, telehealth, and online therapy options can create a strong support network. Small, consistent efforts—phone calls, scheduled video chats, and check-ins—can make a meaningful difference in reducing loneliness and protecting wellbeing.
