AARP Foundation Draws Attention to Social Isolation with the Launch of Connect2Affect

NEW PLATFORM DRIVES AWARENESS, PROVIDES INFORMATION AND SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 8 MILLION OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF ISOLATION OR LONELINESS

AARP Foundation Draws Attention to Social Isolation with the Launch of Connect2Affect

NEW PLATFORM DRIVES AWARENESS,

PROVIDES INFORMATION AND

SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 8 MILLION

OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF

ISOLATION OR LONELINESS

WASHINGTON, DC - AARP Foundation

recently announced the launch

of Connect2Affect, a response to

the growing epidemic of isolation

affecting more than 8 million older

adults. The goal of Connect2Affect

is to create a network that not only

builds awareness about social isolation

and its impact, but also identifies

solutions.

Strong social connections are

fundamental to physical and mental

well-being. But recent research

shows that the negative health

consequences of chronic isolation

and loneliness, while harmful at any

age, are especially so for older adults.

According to a study published last

year in Perspectives on Psychological

Science, the health effects of prolonged

isolation are equivalent to smoking 15

cigarettes a day. An earlier report found

that subjective feelings of loneliness can

increase the risk of death by anywhere

from 26 percent to 45 percent.

"Social isolation is a complex problem,

one that desperately needs our

attention," said AARP Foundation

President Lisa Marsh Ryerson.

"With Connect2Affect, we want to

encourage new research, create a

deeper understanding of loneliness

and isolation, and identify innovative

solutions to help adults age 50 and

older build the social connections they

need to thrive."

Spearheaded by AARP Foundation, in

collaboration with the Gerontological

Society of America, Give an Hour, the

National Association of Area Agencies

on Aging and UnitedHealth Group,

Connect2Affect features tools and

resources to help evaluate isolation

risk, reach out to others who may be

feeling lonely and disconnected, and

find practical ways to reconnect with

the community. Content on the website,

connect2affect.org, is drawn from leading

voices such as the American Society on

Aging, Boston College, Huffington Post

and many more.

Connect2Affect's online tool includes

a fast, easy self-assessment test that

asks yes or no questions relating to

relationships, mobility and major life

changes. The assessment, which will

continue to evolve as new findings on

social isolation emerge, can be taken at

any age - giving users the opportunity to

consider how they want to age and the

types of relationships they want to have

as they get older.

For more information about social

isolation and the Connect2Affect

platform, please visit connect2affect.org.

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