Those responsible for taking care of them should be held more accountable for decisions regarding their aging relatives or friends. In England, The Silver Line, a helpline for the elderly to call when they need someone to talk to, has tried to combat loneliness. Founded in 2012, The Silver Line receives over 10,000 calls a week and continues to grow (https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/what-we-do/growing-the-silver-line-helpline/). This same service could be implemented in the United States. Schools could routinely send students to check in with the elderly in retirement homes or homes, be it annually or more often. Many schools have service requirements for their students which this could fill. One nursing home in Seattle actually doubles as a preschool, with the school's children able to interact with the elderly there. Benefits abound not just for the elderly but for the youth too, from experience to perspective (https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/the-preschool-inside-a-nursing-home/424827/). Although the issue of loneliness in the elderly is significant, there are many steps towards a
Those responsible for taking care of them should be held more accountable for decisions regarding their aging relatives or friends. In England, The Silver Line, a helpline for the elderly to call when they need someone to talk to, has tried to combat loneliness. Founded in 2012, The Silver Line receives over 10,000 calls a week and continues to grow (https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/what-we-do/growing-the-silver-line-helpline/). This same service could be implemented in the United States. Schools could routinely send students to check in with the elderly in retirement homes or homes, be it annually or more often. Many schools have service requirements for their students which this could fill. One nursing home in Seattle actually doubles as a preschool, with the school's children able to interact with the elderly there. Benefits abound not just for the elderly but for the youth too, from experience to perspective (https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/the-preschool-inside-a-nursing-home/424827/). Although the issue of loneliness in the elderly is significant, there are many steps towards a