Loneliness is more than a feeling. It's a matter of life or death for seniors living alone.
In 2023, then-U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy identified an "epidemic of loneliness" in America.
His advisory cited studies showing social isolation is a killer, as deadly as "smoking 15 cigarettes a day." And numerous studies have shown that staying socially connected increases an older person's chance of survival.
Now Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has announced the reintroduction of a billi in the U.S. Senate that would establish that connection in federal law: the Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief (SENIOR) Act.
The SENIOR Act would amend the 1965 Older Americans Act to include screening for loneliness and coordination of supportive services and health care to address its negative health effects.
It also would direct Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to prepare a report on loneliness in seniors, looking for solutions and studying the value of multigenerational family units.
Scott, who chairs the Senate's Special Committee on Aging, said in a prepared statement: "Combatting the feeling of isolation and loneliness for our aging community has endless benefits – from better mental and physical health to stronger, multigenerational relationships with families and communities."
Sen. Tina Smith, R-Minnesota, and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, are cosponsors.
In her statement, Smith said the legislation "will combat social isolation as we age by investing in things we know work, like supporting caregivers and programs like Meals on Wheels."
The previous version of the bill was filed in May and expired with the 118th Congress.
Copyright 2025 Central Florida Public Media
