Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Adults: The Role of Clinicians

Session moderated by Lekshmi Santhosh

The U.S. Surgeon General has called attention to a new epidemic: loneliness and social isolation. As the baby boomers continue to age, understanding the dynamics of loneliness and social isolation and their potential health implications is essential for clinicians. In this Grand Rounds, Ashwin Kotwal, who has published extensively on the topic of loneliness in the elderly, will explore the unique challenges faced by older individuals and offer practical steps that clinicians can take to address the challenges of loneliness in older adults. 

Speaker
Ashwin Kotwal, MD, is assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics. His clinical work focuses on advancing telehealth palliative care at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC), where he has been director of the Outpatient Palliative Care Telehealth Program since 2019.

Ashwin’s research is focused on understanding and enhancing social connections of older adults to improve their quality of life and healthcare access. In recent work, he investigated experiences of loneliness and social isolation among older adults with cognitive impairment and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on social well-being. He is currently evaluating community-based interventions to address loneliness and isolation. 

How to Attend
In Person:
N-217 (Nursing Building, enter through 521 Parnassus Avenue.)
Lunch will be provided.

On Zoom:
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/93868706312?pwd=ZWpzeHlNYmJzcUp3c1JxRWpyTGF2QT09
Webinar ID: 938 6870 6312
Passcode: 249803

By Phone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 6833  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 312 626 6799  or
+1 646 558 8656  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592
International numbers available: https://ucsf.zoom.us/u/abBh6VatYU

The session will be recorded for later play. See all past recordings.