Social Isolation

A state characterized by a lack of meaningful social contacts, relationships, and community engagement. Social isolation is a significant public health concern among older adults and people with disabilities, associated with increased risks of depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. It differs from loneliness in that it refers to the objective absence of social connections rather than the subjective feeling of being alone. Technology interventions aimed at reducing social isolation must account for accessibility barriers, digital literacy levels, and the complex interplay of health, mobility, financial, and trust factors that contribute to disconnection.