Opinion: Older adult isolation is on the rise. Here’s how to help.

As San Diego’s population ages and the ties that once bound families together evolve or unravel, a silent crisis is growing in our midst. More older adults are facing the prospect of aging alone. Dubbed “elder orphans” by many leading aging experts, these individuals lack family or friends to lean on.

More than 1 in 5 people over 65 in the county — about 130,000 people — face aging alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic did not just complicate daily routines; it deepened the chasm of loneliness for older persons. While social distancing protected physical health, it came at a steep price.  People became cut off from friends, faith communities and vibrant activity centers.

The pandemic’s acute phase may be over, but its shadow lingers — many older adults are still struggling to reconnect, some mourning irreplaceable losses in their circle of support.

The isolation is so much more than missing a Sunday family dinner or a friendly chat over coffee. It is a pressing public health crisis. Research funded by AARP linked it to spiking rates of depression, cognitive decline, dementia and chronic illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

The fallout is also expensive. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, Medicare shells out an additional $6.7 billion each year due to social isolation among older adults.

The good news is we have the tools to turn the tide. Boosting older adult engagement is not just the right thing to do, it has been proven to improve physical and mental well-being. It requires a determined, multipronged approach by investing in infrastructure, sparking innovation in programming, and forging stronger connections across generations.

The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation is leading the way with several initiatives to address the problem:

— Revitalizing senior centers: Senior centers have long served as lifelines, offering social interaction, learning and health resources. Yet many in San Diego County are underfunded, outdated, or lack outreach capacity. By modernizing facilities, extending hours and expanding programming, we can restore these centers as indispensable anchors for our older adults.

— No Senior Alone initiative: This trailblazing program funds more than 40 senior centers and other aging-related organizations to provide activities, support services and community outreach to engage elder orphans.

— Transportation solutions: Reliable, affordable transportation — whether it’s subsidized ride shares, expanded shuttle services, volunteer driver programs, or preparing older adults for the arrival of driverless cars like Waymo in 2026 — can ensure older adults stay connected to friends, medical care and community events.

— Digital inclusion: The digital world should not leave older persons behind. By providing technological training and affordable devices, we can open doors to virtual socialization, telehealth and lifelong learning.

— Intergenerational initiatives: Bringing older adults and youth together for mentoring, art, or storytelling breaks down barriers and builds bridges, dismantling stereotypes on both sides and fostering meaningful relationships.

— Community outreach: Some older people cannot be reached through traditional means. By joining forces with faith organizations, neighborhood groups and local government, we can find and uplift those most at risk of isolation.

— Health care provider engagement: Physicians and care teams should routinely screen for social isolation and go a step further by “prescribing” community activities like visits to senior centers, treating loneliness with the same urgency as any physical ailment.

San Diego’s older adults are more than statistics — they are the parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors and friends who have shaped our lives and our city. Combating their isolation is not just a matter of public health or fiscal responsibility; it reflects our shared values.

By backing organizations like the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation and championing age-friendly policies, we can build a community where everyone knows they matter, and no one grows old alone.

Downey is the chief advocacy officer for the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2017.