Loneliness is one of the only universal conditions and it’s increasingly becoming an epidemic – more than a quarter of Americans experience loneliness and the older adult population is one of the highest risk groups for social isolation and loneliness. With winter approaching and concerns over a new COVID-19 variant, the need for human connection among our nation’s older adults is profound — but the opportunities are, too.

We had the privilege of sharing the virtual stage at Forbes Healthcare Summit to reflect on our partnership and the power of human connection. We both believe companionship should not be a rare asset — and with our collective voices and action to match, we can make companionship commonly accessible.

As health care leaders, you may wonder why we care about social connection. It’s because health is not driven by what happens in the doctor’s office, it’s driven by what’s on our tables, who asks us about our days, and whether we can travel to work or the pharmacy. In short, much more than clinical dimensions, health and well-being are driven by social and behavioral factors. It’s therefore not surprising that two of the factors that have a negative health impact on people of all ages are loneliness and social isolation. In fact, the health effects of low social connection can be as dangerous as obesity and smoking. And, individuals who are socially isolated are two to five times more likely to die prematurely than those with strong social ties.

The partnership between Humana and Papa, which began several years ago, is a prime example of addressing this fundamental human need — creating connection that starts with trust, and ends with better outcomes.

Upon Humana’s early recognition that older adults are facing the strain and stress of loneliness, we partnered, beginning in 2018, to help mitigate the issue by connecting Humana’s Medicare Advantage members to Papa Pals, vetted and trained companions who meet needs that promote one’s health, but are non-medical in nature — ranging from technology assistance, meal preparation, light housework, transportation, and, of course, social interaction. One of Humana’s members, Rita Wadley, put it so well: “I have something to look forward to knowing that they’re coming one day a week. And that makes me happy.”

And it’s more than a smile on member’s faces that we see — after a 6 months randomized study, Humana members, who were living with chronic illness and who received Papa Pals support, saw significantly greater loneliness improvements and healthy days as compared to a control group. More specifically, sixty-nine percent had an improved loneliness score and 39% were no longer considered lonely; the number of days they felt physically unhealthy was reduced by 4.5 days, mentally unhealthy by four days.

The impact goes well beyond numbers. One Papa member who hadn’t seen a doctor in more than two decades learned of an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis after her Papa Pal encouraged a visit. Companionship and trust opened this window to early intervention.

As we approach the holidays, and many of us feel more alone, it’s an opportune time to think a bit closer to home about how we can come together to make the world a less lonely place in our own communities.

We all need a pal. We can all be a pal. Here are three places to start:

● Serve others: When you serve others, you make an impact on the people you’re helping, and on your own well-being. Turn loneliness into a service-oriented mindset. Become an advocate, a pen-pal, a volunteer.

● Simple gestures: Pick up the phone and call a friend or an older relative. You can find resources at Far From Alone.

● Squash stigma: There’s been a shift in perception around loneliness, which is a good thing. Let’s be sure everyone feels comfortable saying they feel alone, down, or simply need help. Talking about it yourself can create the space for this to happen.

Humans are social by nature, and high-quality social relationships are vital for health and well-being. We call on others — health plans, employers, providers — to further their work that considers loneliness as central to one’s health. With a record number of Americans turning 65 each day, there is urgency to address social isolation and loneliness in an integrated, personalized way. As an industry and as individuals, we can help people lead happier, healthier lives — and help turn the tide from more reactive to proactive care that focuses on building health.