Loneliness Doesn't Take a Holiday

More and more Americans are lonely, and there is mounting evidence that this can pose significant health risks, according to University of Georgia Professor Kerstin Emerson in HealthDay News . "Recent studies have even suggested that loneliness is a risk factor for early death comparable to smoking or being an alcoholic," she notes. Emerson says identifying lonely people is not always easy. "The only way we can measure loneliness is to ask," she emphasizes. "Usually we ask a series of questions that are part of scales to get at loneliness." Emerson also says because loneliness is a personal problem, it typically requires personalized solutions. "There are therapies that can help people who need to build social skills," she points out. "There are services that will help you get from your home to church or your local senior center. Maybe a virtual chat room would meet your needs." Among actions people can take to reduce loneliness in their community is signing older adults up for classes on how to use social media, offering older relatives or neighbors regular rides to community destinations, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels or other organizations.