Old & alone

Since retiring to the country in 2021 the writer has come to realise one thing - being old and alone can be detrimental to one's health. As he approached 70, the writer's health went almost overnight from perfect to problematic. Lots of reasons were looked at, analysed and possible solutions discovered. Yet, at its core, the problem was not physiological, as in "aging"; it was psychological, as in "being alone". That loneliness was not just separation from an intimate partner - in the writer's case a woman - but also from family and friends. The writer became very much aware of this reality about four years into his isolation, when connection with "home" became more fractured and lessened. Looking for medical solutions did not really work, and neither did healthy solutions, though these were obviously significant for anyone approaching their seventies and could not be ignored. The following video - including its AI-generated doctor presenting - addresses some of these issues.

The truth about older men living alone - 5 surprising facts every senior must know, Dr. Richard Ben, YouTube, duration: 24.57 minutes.

In summary, the video presents five practical activities and things that can help stop the decline in health due to loneliness. They are as follows:

1. Chronic loneliness and the associated negative impacts upon cellular biology. It leads to early mortality. Social connection is vital. Older men suffer from this more than older women, because the latter are able to maintain social connections better then men.
2. Strength training. Fast twitch fibres must be supported, as they disappear as one gets older. Resistance training is required - fast and strength building, two sessions a week. Eat protein after the training.
3. Quality of sleep. Men living alone experience shorter periods of deep sleep due to fear and lack of intimacy. This is the most important stage of sleep during which body maintenance is at its highest. It can result in a higher incidence of Alzheimer disease. Magnesium just before bed is recommended.
4. Anabolic resistance, due to the effects of protein. Up to 50% more protein is needed to maintain physical fitness and muscle strength. Distribute it across all means - Greek yoghurt, eggs, fish, meat, and Omega 3 via sardines, fish oil, etc. 
5. Early morning sunlight and exposure on the body. If done within the first 90 minutes of waking, it affects the circadian rhythm, with the latter very much put out of whack due to living alone. Walking also assists.

A Google search around item #1 revealed the following information:

Groundbreaking research from Brigham Young University (BYU) reveals that chronic loneliness and social isolation can shorten your lifespan by several years, carrying a health risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The BYU Social Connection and Health Lab found that loneliness increases premature mortality risk by up to 26%. [1, 2, 3] The findings from BYU psychology professors Julianne Holt-Lunstad and Timothy B. Smith demonstrated that this lack of connection increases your mortality risk by exactly 26%, while objective social isolation increases it by 29%. Interestingly, these detrimental impacts on longevity are even more pronounced in populations under age 65 than in older adults. [1, 2, 3] Because chronic loneliness triggers physiological responses comparable to sustained stress and inflammation, it is increasingly treated as a major public health crisis. On the flip side, their studies show that robust social ties can increase your odds of survival by up to 50%.

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References

The truth about older men living alone - 5 surprising facts every senior must know, Dr. Richard Ben, YouTube, duration: 24.57 minutes.

Warick, Melody McGrath, Loneliness - The Shadow Pandemic, Y Magazine, Brigham Young University, Summer 2020. 

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Last updated: 24 July 2026

Michael Organ, Australia