Addressing social isolation may be as important to health as the medicines we develop to combat COVID-19.
When it takes up its next bill to combat the coronavirus, Congress should include measures to combat a second epidemic that is spreading in COVID-19’s wake: social isolation.
That’s the main recommendation featured in a recent opinion piece by Dr. David Blumenthal, president of The Commonwealth Fund, and 2 of his colleagues.
The authors maintain that social isolation has long been a threat to health of Americans, especially older adults. For instance:
- One in 4 community-dwelling elderly Americans lives alone.
- Many have outlived spouses and friends, and live at great distance from remaining family.
- Not all are technically savvy.
- Nearly half don’t have a home internet connection.
“Under the best of circumstances, these conditions can lead to loneliness, and now in this period of forced distancing, it is even more likely and more dangerous,” they write. “Now that the community lockdowns … are severing social links, addressing social isolation may be as important to health as the most powerful medicines we need to ultimately develop for COVID-19.”
The writers offer several ways that government initiatives could “nip this new social epidemic in the bud.” For example, the Medicare program should:
- Provide more generous coverage of mental health benefits.
- Require that Medicare Advantage programs offer services to combat social isolation.
- Be allowed to provide digital solutions and support so people can engage in telemental health and other digital activities during lockdowns.
Congress should provide funds to increase federal support for:
- The underfunded network of Area Agencies on Aging.
- State and local public health department programs to combat social isolation.
- Eligible nonprofits with a track record of combating social isolation.
- Development and distribution of mobile applications for elders who are connected.