Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 68 percent of nursing home residents reported eating in a dining room with other people. By October 2020, those numbers had drastically changed—87 percent of residents said they ate alone in their rooms.

Even as the height of COVID has subsided, Emily Belz reports that “Nursing Homes Still Haven’t Recovered from Pandemic Loneliness.” Belz points to ministry leaders, medical professionals, and social researchers who all recognize the same phenomenon: loneliness has a significant, negative effect on the human spirit. That effect is often compounded for nursing home residents who already face increased isolation. Now, more than ever, they need churches, non-profit organizations, and neighbors to bring a sense of community back to their lives.

While the loneliness crisis uniquely and heavily affects the elderly, its impact can be seen throughout all generations. Working women are burning out professionally. Children are facing educational gaps and social delays. Men are struggling with their mental health. The loneliness and isolation we faced in 2020 and 2021 still linger in our lives.

Getting together with friends or family can’t solve all of these problems, but it can give our hearts and minds the opportunity for connection, encouragement, and joy that can’t be found on our own. Whether it’s visiting a nursing home, having someone over for dinner, or meeting up with friends at the park for an hour, there’s hope to be found in time spent with others.