The Vital Role of Social Connection in Healthy Aging
By Jenna Mortenson • March 27th 2025
Welcome to the Bridge Blog by Granddaughters Home Care! Started in 2009, GHC is a proudly Canadian owned, family run business consisting of a team of compassionate, empathetic, and dedicated individuals. Please visit the our story tab to learn more. The goal of the Bridge Blog will be to address and explore important topics related to the senior population, with the ultimate aim of promoting healthy aging.
Mental Health in the Aging Population
Did you know that approximately 1 in 4 Canadian seniors are currently living with a mental health concern? According to the Government of Canada, this includes but is not limited to depression, anxiety, and dementia, with loneliness and social isolation being the biggest risk factors for their development in the later stages of life as per the World Health Organization. In addition, the Mental Health Commission of Canada shares that 1 in 3 older adults living on their own have stated they would find value in receiving mental health care, and 12% of individuals 65 and over have reported feelings of social isolation. As we age, mental health concerns can become more prevalent, particularly for seniors. With changing life circumstances, physical health issues, and decreased social interactions, older adults are at a higher risk for mental health challenges, but this is often overlooked as being a normal or expected sign of aging. Deterioration of mental health may present differently in seniors, often referred to as an atypical presentation, and it is important to note how these symptoms may present themselves. Changes in energy or appetite, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, difficulty concentrating, irritability, ongoing pain, among others, can be signs of mental health concerns in older adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Knowing the statistics and these potential signs are important in understanding the prevalence of mental illness in seniors and how we can address these concerns. As mentioned above, social isolation is one of the biggest risk factors for the development of mental health challenges in later life, which is where important initiatives aimed at promoting social connection come into play.
Let’s Talk about Letters Against Isolation
Earlier this year, Granddaughters Home Care teamed up with Letters Against Isolation, a program started by Shreya and Saffron during COVID, that sought to tackle the issue of the increased loneliness and isolation that seniors were facing as a result of the pandemic. The program involves volunteers sending handwritten letters to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Canada, the U.S, Australia and the UK, promoting connection through the power of letters. Letters Against Isolation allows those who volunteer to spread love far and wide, beyond borders, to support seniors and combat the isolation that so many of them experience as they age.
Pictured above are a couple of handwritten letters put together by our very own GHC team! You may be asking yourself why Letters Against Isolation matters. Not only is the program an affordable and accessible way to reduce loneliness by creating connection and a sense of companionship, but it promotes emotional well-being for seniors which can reduce the prevalence of those mental health challenges as discussed above. On their website you can see evidence of LAI’s impact through their client testimonials. One of which in particular stands out from a senior recipient named Donna who shares “Reading the letters reminds me that I’m not alone in this isolation period, and that we are all in this together. It is touching to see that people of all ages care about people in other communities. Overall, it makes me feel uplifted.”
How to Get Involved
If you are looking for a way to make a positive impact on the mental health of seniors, getting involved in Letters Against Isolation is a great way to do so! Volunteers simply need to sign up online, after which you will be provided a link to the LAI portal where you will find the names and addresses of the partner facilities around the world. You will then have the opportunity to write as many heartfelt letters as you wish, and then send them off to a very deserving senior. For more information, please visit the Letters Against Isolation website.
Other Ways to Stay Connected
There are so many additional ways to stay connected with our aging population! As per the Dementia Network of Calgary this includes identifying a person who you trust that can visit your loved one regularly, getting tech savvy and staying connected with family and friends through video calls, email and social media. Furthermore, learning about home and community based support and services that may be meaningful to seniors can enhance their quality of life. Lastly, seniors can advance their social interactions by forming connections with individuals who share common interests, trying a support group online or in person, and overall working towards maintaining an active social life, in order to improve their mental and emotional well-being and reduce feelings of isolation.
Conclusion
Mental health concerns among seniors are an increasingly prevalent issue in our society today. Initiatives such as Letters Against Isolation offer a creative and compassionate solution to combat these problems by fostering connection and providing emotional support to those seniors who need it most. Additionally, other initiatives such as video chats and support groups can help seniors maintain strong social connections. These simple strategies can easily brighten someone’s day, and in doing so, allows us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors and help them feel less isolated in a world that can often feel distant.
