Through the “Be in the Circle: Be Connected” campaign, CareMore hopes to spark conversations between seniors, healthcare professionals and other caregivers about the health risks of loneliness, which affects more than 43 percent of adults over age 65, and can increase risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, obesity and early death. The campaign is part of a larger clinical initiative aimed at social challenges seniors face, called the Togetherness Program.
“Despite the fact that loneliness is a common emotional distress syndrome with a high risk factor for early mortality and a broad variety of physical health and psychiatric issues, it still gets little attention in medical training or in healthcare more generally,” CareMore President Sachin Jain, MD, said in a press release. “It is critical we address the physical, psychological and social well-being of aging seniors, and the Togetherness Program is an important first step in addressing the widespread issue of senior loneliness.”
The Togetherness Program takes a multifaceted approach to addressing loneliness and its often multifaceted causes. CareMore has started screening Medicare Advantage patients in four states who may be eligible for the program. Once patients are identified, first steps include building personal relationships between patients and providers and expanding offerings to address seniors’ needs.
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