Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2023

Date: 2/28/23
Name: Jenna Sniffen
Central Question: How does loneliness within elders negatively affect communities?
Thesis: Elderly loneliness affects our communities because it causes them to feel useless and increases the chances of
developing life threating aspects.
Essay Sections:
#1 What is the problem? What are the systemic causes? Who is hurt and who benefits? (Use three sources.)
#2: What has been and is being done? (Use two sources.)
#3: What do you think should be done and what do you intend to do? (Use one source.)

In which section will you use this source?

Excerpts:

The article starts by explaining, “Loneliness and social insolation in older adults are serious
public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the US”.

Although older people may appear to be very social “loneliness is the feeling of being alone,
regardless of the amount of social contract”.

According to a report done, people tend to feel lonely after hitting a certain age: “A report from
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine points out that more than one-
third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely”.

Commentary and Analysis:

This website provides statistic evidence of elderly people feeling alone during a certain
time of their life. It is stated that reasons for feeling alone are loss of hearing or other senses, loss
of family members and friends, or even just living alone. Adults who fall under the category of
“older aged people” are said to be at a higher risk of being socially isolated or feeling alone.
Social isolation and loneliness are also deemed as serious public health risks and heavily affect a
large amount of people within the US alone.
A large issue like this one commonly causes people to do things that cause temporary
happiness or participate in activities that have long term consequences. This issue causes high
risks to develop new medical complications. Some people may enjoy being alone, but most do
not have a choice to choose company or loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness are both
subject to putting one’s health in danger.
MLA Work Cited:

“Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions.” Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Apr. 2021,
www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html. 

This is a reputable and reliable article because CDC has been in business since 1946 and
serves as an agency for the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.