“Loneliness is different than isolation and solitude. Loneliness is a subjective feeling where the connections we need are greater than the connections we have. In the gap, we experience loneliness. It’s distinct from the objective state of isolation, which is determined by the number of people around you.” - Vivek Murthy, two time (and current) Surgeon General.

We have heard a lot about loneliness and social isolation, particularly during the pandemic with enforced social distancing and near imprisonment of older adults in nursing homes. In this context, we bring in two experts on these topics, Carla Perissinotto and Ashwin Kotwal, to explain:

How loneliness and social isolation overlap and are distinct
How common these measures of social well being are in geriatrics and palliative care
Why we should care as clinicians
How we can ask about them
How we should respond to care for patients who are lonely or isolated

Some key references from among the many we discuss on the podcast:

-@AlexSmithMD

Loneliness and Social Isolation: Podcast with Carla Perissinotto and Ashwin Kotwal

GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast