Ellen Waldman

Back in 1968, the experts informed us about the dangers of not wearing a seat belt. Then, in 1969, the first warning labels were put on cigarettes packs. We came to accept these as important guidelines related to staying healthy and alive.

This past month, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, and his office wrote a widespread report on the dangers of loneliness.

The report, titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” finds that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. What caught my attention was this: Loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to a dozen cigarettes daily.

Murthy declared this the latest public health epidemic. The physical consequences of poor connections include a 29% increased risk of heart disease; a 32% increased risk of stroke; and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Aging adults, in particular, need to take this to heart.

And what is loneliness, according to Murthy? “It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing. There’s really no substitute for in-person interaction.”

Here’s the bright news. “The risk of social isolation is potentially modifiable for older adults,” Thomas Cudjoe, an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins and a senior author of the study, said in a statement.

This means being more socially involved is an achievable solution. One way to find more connection is through volunteering, which puts the focus on the needs of others.

“Research consistently finds that humans underestimate how positively helpers feel and how willing people are to help, even when they are strangers,” wrote Jelena Kecmanovic, a clinical psychologist, in The Washington Post May 5.

There are many ways to stay connected, and here are some available volunteer opportunities in Jackson County. You can find more posted in the Rogue Valley Times. Call the Community Volunteer Network at 541-857-7780 or email RSVP@retirement.org for more information about these openings below.

AARP is looking for volunteers for its Community Action Team in Southern Oregon.

Age Wise, Age Well is seeking volunteers to provide peer counseling to older adults who are experiencing issues related to aging.

The Call-A-Ride medical transportation program needs volunteer drivers to transport local seniors to their medical appointments.

Asante has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in Medford and Ashland.

Food and Friends/Meals on Wheels needs home delivery drivers and kitchen help.

The Foster Grandparent Program is looking for older adult volunteers who have a passion for helping children succeed.

Long-term Care Ombudsman is looking for advocates for the rights and dignity of the elderly and disabled living in licensed long-term care facilities.

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) offers training for volunteers to provide one-on-one health insurance counseling and assistance to people and families with Medicare.

Besides these local volunteer options, engagement with faith-based and spiritual communities are historically a way to meet likeminded people.

Another idea is to take classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University.

Other options include joining a gym, or moving to a congregate living, retirement or assisted-living community. These communities always include onsite meals and activities, which builds connections into the course of a normal day.

After all, a major cure for loneliness is to stop going it alone. Here’s what Maria Shriver had to say about this: “According to our surgeon general, we are all lonely and getting lonelier, but the solution lies within us. It lies within our own humanity and our own willingness to reach out to another person.”

Find some real-life facetime with others and make this an ongoing part of your life.