PENNSYLVANIA — Nearly one in three Pennsylvania seniors living alone went the entire month of January without a single meaningful check-in from another person, according to a new survey that highlights the depth of wintertime social isolation among older adults.
The findings come from a survey conducted by Choice Mutual, which questioned 3,025 adults aged 65 and older who live alone. When asked whether anyone had checked in on them since January 1, 26 percent said no. Applied to Pennsylvania’s senior population living alone, that translates to an estimated 67,375 people with no meaningful contact during the first month of the year.
Researchers said the results underscore a broader public health concern as loneliness has been linked in medical research to higher risks of depression, chronic illness, cognitive decline, and premature death, on par with the effects of heavy smoking.
The survey found that isolation intensifies during the winter months. Nearly three-quarters of seniors living alone said winter is when their loneliness feels worst, while 68 percent reported feeling forgotten or invisible during that season.
Beyond the headline numbers, the data showed loneliness is a frequent experience. Twenty percent of respondents said they feel lonely every day during winter, while another 42 percent said they feel lonely occasionally and 8 percent several times a week. Only 12 percent said they never feel lonely.
Isolation was not limited to those living alone. The survey found that 65 percent of seniors who live with a partner still sometimes feel lonely, suggesting that companionship at home does not necessarily eliminate emotional isolation.
Support networks also appeared fragile. Nearly three in ten seniors living alone said they do not have even one person they can confide in during difficult times, and 58 percent said they worry their loneliness is already harming their health. Overall, 62 percent reported that loneliness affected their physical or mental well-being this winter.
Reaching out remains a challenge. When asked how likely they are to contact someone when they feel isolated, only 28 percent said they are very likely to do so, while 40 percent said they are unlikely or very unlikely, a pattern researchers said can trap seniors in a cycle of silence.
Anthony Martin, founder of Choice Mutual, said the findings should be viewed as a warning sign rather than a social inconvenience. He said loneliness is often dismissed as a soft issue, but the data show it has real health consequences, noting that when a quarter of seniors go a full month without a check-in, it signals a broader public health problem.
The survey also pointed to a simple potential remedy. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said their well-being would improve if someone reached out more often, reinforcing the idea that small acts such as a phone call or brief visit can have an outsized impact.
Nationally, the study ranked Pennsylvania among states with significant winter isolation, though not among the most severe. Wyoming and Oklahoma topped the list, each with half of seniors living alone reporting no January check-ins.
Researchers said the results add to growing evidence that winter exacerbates loneliness and that consistent, low-effort social contact could play a critical role in protecting seniors’ health and quality of life.
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