Opinion:It Takes a Village to Overcome Senior Isolation and Loneliness

October 14, 2025 by Glenn Mangurian

Third in a Series: Learning about the New Center for Active Living Project

The Isolation Epidemic
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report warning: America is facing an epidemic of social isolation and loneliness. He reported that one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. When the report was published, many older Americans didn’t need a report to tell them what loneliness feels like. Too many experience it after a spouse passes, when adult children live far away, or when health challenges make it harder to leave the house. For many older adults, the epidemic of isolation is not a headline—it’s a daily reality.

“Social isolation is like a once-bright lighthouse whose light still burns, but no ships pass close enough to see it.” – Unknown

Loneliness Is More than an Emotional Struggle.
A recent study from Cornell University found that people with richer social lives may literally age more slowly. It has real physical consequences such as the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia and depression. The Surgeon General’s reported that the health impact of isolation is comparable to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. But beyond the medical consequences lies something deeper: when people feel disconnected, they lose a sense of purpose and belonging—the very qualities that give life its richness. The Harvard Happiness Study, also known as the Harvard Study of Adult Development, is the world’s longest-running study on happiness, and its key finding is that good relationships are the most important factor for a happy and healthy life.

Being Part of the “Sandwich Generation”
The members of the “sandwich generation” are those who are simultaneously providing care for their aging parents and their own children. Like many, I experienced this years ago with my mother as she grew older. My mother lived alone for many years after my father passed. Once an active, vibrant woman, her circle of friends narrowed. I remember she told me that it was very hard experiencing her friends dying. I noticed her memory started to fail and she started to show signs of increased dementia.

Unfortunately, she lived over an hour away and wanted to continue living in her one bedroom apartment. I arranged for services to be brought to her. But, one day she fell at a local convenience store. That incident became the “tipping point” to move her to assisted living in Hingham where she received the services she needed. We were able to visit her more often and she could participate in social activities. The human connections made a difference and she was happier.

Addressing this Epidemic Requires Collective Action.
Loneliness thrives in silence, and breaking that silence takes admitting that we need one another. It means reaching out when it feels easier to withdraw. The Surgeon General calls for creating opportunities for belonging in schools and neighborhoods. The Hingham Center for Active Living is a place where new connections are made and nurtured whether through a shared meal, a joint activity or a moment of listening without interruption. Scores of volunteers give their time to lead the Center’s programs. Healing loneliness begins with one of the simplest, oldest “medicines” available: caring for one another. The volunteers and small number of paid staff bring that caring to the Center daily. Each gesture reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves. A vibrant senior or active living center is not just a building; it’s a bridge back to connection, dignity, and vitality.

A New Center for Active Living Will Be a Point of Pride for Hingham
Hingham should be a place where elder adults and future older generations are visible, valued, and involved. In spite of the current Center’s constrained space and very limited parking, the facility is a vibrant place where new connections are made and lives are enriched. Yes, many independent seniors live rich lives now but their circumstance may change. That’s when older adults can find community again. Remember, we change the world one person at a time. The new Center will strengthen all of Hingham. That’s something we can be proud of.