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Older Caregivers' Loneliness Relieved By An Unlikely Source, Study Reveals

Using 2019–2020 California Health Interview Survey data, researchers tracked nearly 4,000 older unpaid caregivers aged 65 and older and found frequent internet use linked to lower loneliness and buffering extra loneliness for those with health problems.
Caregiving pressures, including dementia care, drove caregivers of people with dementia to face 62% higher loneliness risk, and caregiving often causes physical and mental strain, Qi said.
Because California Health Interview Survey did not record internet activities, Qi said `Think of it like a bridge that can connect you to people and information, even when you can’t leave home,` and suggested interactive uses might ease loneliness more than passive ones.
The research team encourages older caregivers to embrace the internet to stay in touch, find support, learn new skills and access reliable health information, while Qi plans follow-up studies to explore these findings.
About 12% of older caregivers report struggling with loneliness, and about 12% report caregiving-related health problems, highlighting groups for targeted support, researchers said.

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