The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked incredible devastation on older Americans. Not only because they face an increased likelihood of death and complications from the virus, but also because lockdowns and social distancing force them to stay indoors alone.In fact, during the epidemic More than half of older adults report feeling socially isolated, up from 27% before the pandemic.
While vaccines have allowed many pre-pandemic activities to resume safely, we must not forget the social and community needs of our most vulnerable populations, especially during the cold winter months when cases surge due to Omicron. Chronic loneliness isn’t just about feeling lonely – it’s a health risk that seriously affects the physical and mental health of older adults, and we must do everything we can to address it.
It is well known that loneliness is as much a risk factor for physical health as chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.In fact, segregation among older adults is almost as high as four times There was an increased risk of death, a 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and a 57% increased risk of emergency room visits.Most importantly, according to National Institute of Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, the federal government spends $6.2 billion annually on social distancing-related care for the elderly. Despite the profound health consequences and associated costs, the healthcare system remains an underutilized partner in preventing, identifying, and intervening in social isolation among older adults.
Currently, most of the services and supports that exist to eliminate social isolation come from scattered volunteers and nonprofits, or family and friends.This is partly because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services only recently Broader benefits are provided for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to address social determinants of health. With this new charge, it’s time for healthcare payers to join the fight against loneliness. Health plans can gain insights about their members that can inform more coordinated strategies to address isolation than any other group can do alone. They often have the scale and resources to reach older adults. On top of that, many health programs—such as MA programs—have financial incentives to prevent social isolation.
Furthermore, as the boundaries between payer and provider organizations recede and new types of payer organizations emerge, these integrated care models offer new avenues through which social determinants of health, such as segregation, can be addressed.
First, plans can identify who is most at risk of isolation and loneliness, for example, by determining if older adults live alone, if a spouse has recently died, or if their care team has expressed concerns. They also communicated directly with primary care physicians, obtained traffic data, gained insight into members’ socioeconomic status, and identified self-report options for affected individuals. Some MA programs use human “guides of care” to help their members navigate health care, and paying providers have in-house care teams who can all identify people with Health Risk Assessment (HRA) depressive symptoms or using words such as “loneliness, loneliness, isolation.” members” in communication with the program.
Once those at risk have been identified, there are many ways to provide connectivity. There are specialized providers that connect seniors with general company “friends” and assist with daily tasks. Many MA plans cover the cost of gym memberships or classes designed to improve physical fitness and build relationships, but few invest in a comprehensive strategy to keep members socially engaged over the long term.
Sometimes all you need to provide is a way for seniors to meet each other on a more authentic level that social media can provide, a challenge when the world of work disappears from their lives and it’s harder to get around. The goal is not just to provide a medium for them to get to know each other, but to use peer-to-peer connections as a tool to promote wellness to help prevent the negative physical and mental effects of isolation.
An example of the above is the planned launch of a virtual social club, which, in our experience, leads to significant participation of the participating seniors. That’s not to say the implementation of a stronger social program like this will be simple. A serious hurdle for wellness programs to overcome is that many members do not see their program as a true partner in their wellness journey. As plans expand services to address social determinants of health, such as isolation, they will need to build trust with members who may be skeptical of such involvement by their insurance providers.
Loneliness is a disease that doesn’t require scientific leaps or expensive technology to cure, but it is vital to the health of older Americans. There is now a boom in Medicare Advantage, and the flexibility given by the government provides room for experimentation and creative thinking for program development specifically aimed at combating isolation. It’s time health payers and payers seize this moment for the health and well-being of all of our seniors.
Photo: FG Trade, Getty Images
