Social Isolation

Social isolation has been shown to lead to poor health and even premature death. New research just published by the AARP Public Policy Institute finds that isolation also increases health

care costs: a lack of social contacts among older adults is associated with an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually. This event, hosted by the AARP Public Policy

Institute, was a discussion of social isolation’s effects on individuals’ health, its impact on Medicare spending, and potential policy solutions to address social isolation and its

consequences.  In addition, panelists discussed how social isolation became recognized as a major public health concern in the UK and how the issue can be better recognized in the US. Also

discussed were current efforts by the AARP Foundation and Medicare Advantage plans to address the issue. Watch the archived videos below: Part 1.  THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL ISOLATION ON MEDICARE

SPENDING.  Meet the researchers and issue experts who have identified social isolation as the new silent killer.  PPI’s new study confirms that Medicare is spending $6.7 billion annually as

a result of this public health issue. Part 2.  SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION.  Learn more from experts working to solve the problem of social isolation both in the U.S. and abroad. 

What we need to do next is develop the evidence base for sound solutions. #SOCIALISOLATION JANUARY 31, 2018 AGENDA PANEL ONE: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL ISOLATION ON HEALTH CARE SPENDING

9:00AM-9:20AM: WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS            Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute & Chief Strategist, Center to Champion Nursing in

America MODERATOR:  Susan Reinhard 9:20AM-9:35AM: FINDINGS FROM PPI’S REPORT ON SOCIAL ISOLATION AND MEDICARE SPENDING                 Lynda Flowers, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, AARP

Public Policy Institute 9:35AM-10:05AM: PANEL DISCUSSION DISCUSSANTS: Tricia Neuman, Senior Vice President of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Director of the Foundation’s Program

on Medicare Policy Jonathan Shaw, Clinical Assistant Professor Medicine and Director of Community Partnerships, Division of Primary Care & Population Health, Stanford University School

of Medicine 10:05AM-10:20AM: PANEL ONE Q & A SESSION 10:20AM-10:35AM: BREAK   PANEL TWO: SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION 10:35AM-10:40AM: OPENING REMARKS AND INTRODUCTION OF PANEL

TWO Lina Walker, Vice President, Health Security, AARP Public Policy Institute MODERATOR:  Lina Walker 10:40AM-10:55AM: AARP FOUNDATION INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION Lisa Marsh

Ryerson, President, AARP Foundation 10:55AM-11:25AM PANEL DISCUSSION DISCUSSANTS: Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Professor, Brigham Young University Janet Morrison, CEO, Independent Age and Chair of

Campaign to End Loneliness in the UK Sara Stevenson, MBA, Strategic Consultant of the Bold Goal, Office of the Chief Medical Officer at Humana  11:25AM-11:40AM PANEL TWO Q & A SESSION

11:40AM-12:00PM: CLOSING REMARKS                           Debra Whitman, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP The Public Policy Institute (PPI) informs and

stimulates public debate on the issues we face as we age. PPI promotes the development of sound, creative, unbiased policies to address our common need for financial security, health care,

and quality of life. To learn more about Social Isolation and other pertinent topics on aging visit https://www.aarp.org/ppi/.