Sick and Alone: High-Need, Socially Isolated Adults Have More Problems, Less Support

For high-need patients with multiple chronic medical conditions and physical or cognitive limitations, the added burden of social isolation can make them more vulnerable to mental, emotional, and financial issues, according to a new analysis of the Commonwealth Fund Survey of High-Need Patients. On To the Point, researchers Corinne Lewis, Tanya Shah, and Melinda K. Abrams also report that these adults are less likely to receive timely, good-quality care than high-need adults who do not report feeling alone.