According to an article published in USA TODAY, America has a new epidemic. It doesn’t respond to traditional therapies, even though it has debilitating and often deadly consequences. The problem, gradually becoming more pervasive, is loneliness. US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murphy is hoping to generate awareness and offer remedies before it claims more lives.
Researchers are still learning why loneliness causes negative health outcomes, but they have a few working hypotheses. To some extent, the problem can be divided into two parts, existing loneliness, and prevention. Finding solutions may take different paths. Dr. Murphy has suggested that tackling the nation’s loneliness epidemic will require that all sectors of society work together with a common goal.
Investor couples, while working on estate planning and funding their retirement, should also recognize that it is very likely that one of them will end up alone, perhaps for a number of years.
Remember, alone and lonely are not synonyms.
All comments and suggestions are welcome.
Walter J. Kirchberger CFA