Loneliness and isolation are different but related:
Loneliness is the distressing feeling of not having close friendships or people you can count on for meaningful interaction.
Isolation is a lack of social contacts and few people to interact with regularly or meaningfully.
You can live alone and not feel lonely or socially isolated, and you can feel lonely while being with other people.
The number of people aged 65 and older in the United States grew rapidly over the 20th century, from 3.1 million in 1900 to 35 million in 2000.
The Census Bureau projects that older people will outnumber children under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history by 2034.
As baby boomers age, and the older adult population lives longer, the number of older adults suffering from loneliness and isolation is increasing.