Managing Chronic Loneliness When Aging: 23 Strategies

Chronic loneliness can affect us all at any point in our lifetimes, but it can be a significant challenge for many older adults as they age.
Loneliness not only affects mental health but also has profound effects on overall wellbeing (Atwood et al., 2019).
It is a difficult topic to talk about as it is tinged with stigma and shame, and people who experience it often feel that there is something wrong with them (Cohen-Mansfield & Eisner, 2020).
However, it is a common condition that is becoming more and more concerning (Jovicic & McPherson, 2020).
In this article, we explore the effects of chronic loneliness and how to address it, giving you practical strategies to support your aging clients.
Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Relationships Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients build healthy, life-enriching relationships.