Loneliness Among Elderly Adults

Understanding the needs of the elderly, researching the rise in loneliness among this demographic, and ideating a solution to reduce it.

Role

Research, Ideation

Duration

8 weeks

Year

2021

Target Audience

The target audience is elderly adults in the USA. The term "elderly" refers to people who are 65 years or older. In 2019, the number of people aged 65 and up in the United States was estimated to be 54.1 million. They account for 16% of the population (one in every seven Americans).

Problem Area

Loneliness and social isolation among older individuals are major public health concerns. Loneliness and social isolation have profound negative effects on health, mental health, and mortality, particularly for older adults. Lonely people are 50% more likely to die prematurely. Loneliness and social isolation are rarely considered or addressed in health and mental health care settings. Yet they are among the most modifiable risk factors for mortality and morbidity.

Presentation Deck

In the study, I used different research methods to uncover insights & find solutions to loneliness among the elderly. Check out the pdf and access the research files below

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The research process started with Understanding and Defining the problem and later ideating a solution to it.

The study began with secondary recherch where we were able to find out how evident loneliness is among elderly adults in the United States.

The Pie Chart shows that nearly half of Americans of age 60 and older have reported feeling lonely

The data here compares loneliness among the older adults in the United States, before and during the Covid Pandemic. It came to notice that the loneliness has increased almost by 20%

The Problem Tree Analysis method helped us to understand the causes and effects of loneliness and discover specific patterns

They want to feel as alive as possible as they lose physical abilities or as some of their senses degrade, celebrating those they have left. They enjoy activities that they can do at home to stimulate their senses and keep in touch with their physical selves.

For older adults asking for help can feel like a defeat brought on by old age. They want to feel taken care of without feeling degraded. The more care they need, the more they wish they could give to others. Reciprocation is vital to preserving their sense of dignity.

Many of them have lost their dearest friends to distance, decline, and death. No virtual network can provide them with the closeness that they’ve felt with old friends. They don’t want to recreate these relationships, but do desire companionship with those who share their interests

They prefer trusted technologies that assist them with logistically and physically demanding household tasks when it is available and affordable. But what they crave is closeness with their families and need intimate support.

The most popular tools feel like an extension of their bodies. They are simple to use, reliable, and often appear low tech. They fit naturally into their lives, rather than them having to adapt to tools.

The Crazy 8’s method helped me come up with ideas to solve the problem

Out of the top three ideas, making pen pals seemed right for both the user segments

The NPO organization will be called “Letters of Love” with a primary motive to fight isolation in senior communities. It will majorly be lead by volunteers from schools, colleges and companies.