Nearly 42 million Americans identify as being lonely. More than 40 percent of those age 65 years and older experience loneliness, often reporting that they lack companionship and emotional support as they age. “Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death,” according to the National Institute on Aging.
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