Nutrition and the Companionship Diet

It’s critical to recognize the signs of isolation and loneliness in our loved ones and the impact it can have on their health.

A recent U.S. Surgeon General advisory declared loneliness and social isolation as an epidemic. According to several studies, the highest rates of social isolation are found among older adults, putting this population at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and even death.

According to research conducted by Home Instead, Inc., older adults who feel lonely skip 224 meals per year – that’s 22% of their total meals. Even before the coronavirus pandemic forced the increased isolation of so many, 75 percent of lonely seniors in the U.S. (69 percent in Canada) were not getting the right amount of at least one element of nutrition.

To overcome the challenges older adults face in maintaining good eating habits, Home Instead provides tips and expertise to improve the meal-time experience and nutrition of older adults.

Home Instead is also working in partnership with Meals on Wheels America to break the isolation many older adults feel.