Loneliness in Older Adults: Brief Version

What is feeling lonely?

Feeling lonely is the pain of feeling apart from friends and family. Loneliness is not just about being alone. You can be with people and still feel lonely and left out.

Feeling lonely can be a problem when you are older. Your friends and family may have died or moved away. You may no longer have a job outside the home. You may not be used to living alone.

There are things you can do so you don’t feel so lonely.

If you feel lonely, you may be depressed and worried. It can affect your health. You may not eat right or get enough exercise. But there are things you can do.

Your local Area Agency on Aging or senior center can help. Call them to find out about:

• Meals
• Exercise classes
• Arts and crafts
• Card games
• Other activities

Ask about getting a ride to the senior center if you need it.

Maybe you miss doing things for other people. You can ask about ways to share your time and skills at places like

• A senior center
• A library
• Your place of worship
• A school
• A hospital

You could get a pet to keep you company.

Take your time thinking about where you'd like to live. You may want to think about moving to a senior community. Then you could:

• Have your own apartment.
• Eat with other people in a dining room and not have to cook.
• Take classes, exercise, or do things with other people as often as you like.