Joseph CascianiGeropsychologist, Consultant, Public Speaking, Freelance · Podcast Host of the Living to 100 Club | Clinical Strategies for Senior Residential Settings & Lifestyle Directors | Geropsychologist | Keynote Speaker

Enhancing Senior Connectivity through New Technologies with ONSCREEN with Costin Tuculescu

14 Oct 2024 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:57

In this segment, the speaker, a technology and video‑conferencing professional, describes how his initial lack of knowledge about senior care led him to discover the scale of loneliness and isolation among older adults. He cites the Surgeon General’s statement that loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and the CDC’s estimate that loneliness adds roughly $7 billion annually to Medicare costs. The speaker highlights the severe health consequences linked to isolation—about a 50 % higher risk of dementia and a 30 % higher risk of stroke and heart disease—emphasizing that these outcomes stem from seniors not being regularly checked on or connected to support networks.

Chapters

My background being in technology, video conferencing, I really didn't know too much about senior care. But then the more I started looking into keeping folks connected, the more I learned about the loneliness and isolation epidemic. And, you know, you have the Surgeon General saying that, hey, loneliness is as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And then you have the CDC estimating that loneliness costs Medicare an additional $7 billion a year because folks aren't staying on top of their needs. So loneliness can have a 50% increased risk of dementia, 30% increased risk of stroke and heart disease, all because you're not checking in. You're not taking care of yourself. You're just isolated and lonely.