Aging Policy Trends: Epidemic Over? Loneliness Among Older Albertans

Loneliness among older Albertans has improved since the pandemic in 2022, but many still lack connection.

It is commonly assumed Canada’s older adults are caught up in an epidemic of loneliness, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what does that mean in practical terms, and what might policymakers do about it?

Our team set out to get a better idea of the extent of the epidemic and where policy attention might best be focused. Loneliness is often thought of by researchers as having three key dimensions: feelings of isolation, a sense of being ‘left out,’ and a lack of companionship.

Working with colleagues at the Angus Reid Group, we surveyed older adult Albertans (aged 65-85) in 2022 and again in 2026, asking them about their experiences of the three dimensions of loneliness. Our sample size in 2022 was 355, and in 2026 was 715.