A new six-year review from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, published in JAMA, reveals that loneliness and social isolation remain serious issues for many adults age 50 to 80—even as rates have returned closer to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2024, one in three older adults (33%) reported feeling lonely at least some of the time, nearly the same as in 2018 (34%). Feelings of isolation were also common, with 29% saying they felt isolated, compared to 27% in 2018. While these numbers are far lower than during the early months of COVID-19—when over half of older adults said they felt isolated—they still highlight a widespread challenge.
Certain groups are especially vulnerable. Adults with poor physical or mental health, those ages 50–64, and individuals with lower incomes or living alone were more likely to report loneliness or isolation. Although isolation rates for older adults living alone dipped slightly in 2024, the overall trend shows that health and financial struggles continue to play a major role.
Experts from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, who led the study with support from AARP and Michigan Medicine, stress that addressing these social and emotional needs is key to supporting older adults’ well-being, especially as loneliness is linked to both mental and physical health risks.
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