Holiday Loneliness: How You Can Help
No one should feel forgotten during the holiday season
The holiday season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s a season filled with laughter, traditions, and togetherness. But for many, it’s also a time when silence feels louder and absence hits harder. While some homes glow with decorations and celebration, others sit quietly, unnoticed and alone.
Loneliness during the holidays isn’t just about being isolated. It’s about feeling disconnected from people, from traditions, from the warmth of shared experiences. Loneliness doesn’t discriminate. People of all ages and backgrounds can feel it, though some are especially vulnerable.
Who Feels It Most
Those far from family: College students, military members, and people who’ve recently relocated may find themselves celebrating solo. Travel costs, time constraints, work obligations, and distance can make home feel out of reach.
Those grieving a loss: For anyone who’s lost a spouse, child, parent, or close friend, the holidays can reopen the pain of grief. Traditions that once brought comfort now carry sorrow.
Those with health challenges: Mental and physical health conditions can act as barriers against travel and participation in social events. Attending gatherings may feel impossible.
Seniors: Many older adults face the season alone. Distant family, poor weather, and limited ability to travel can deepen their isolation.
What are the Impacts of Loneliness on Health
Chronic loneliness has been linked to increased stress, weakened immunity, and higher risks of depression, heart disease, and cognitive decline.
A 2025 study funded by the National Institute on Aging found that chronic loneliness in adults aged 50 and older increased the risk of dementia by 31%.
How Can We Make a Difference?
You don’t need grand gestures to make a difference. Even small acts of kindness can help someone feel seen, remembered, and valued during the holiday season.
Reach out intentionally: A phone call, text, or handwritten card can remind someone they matter. Sometimes, hearing a familiar voice is the best gift of all.
Extend an invitation: If you’re hosting a meal or event, consider inviting someone who might not have plans. Providing an invitation can mean the world to its recipient.
Offer a ride: Many people would love to join a holiday gathering, but they simply can’t get there. A ride to a gathering, church service, or community event can help them feel connected during the holidays.
Share a tradition: Plan a visit and bake cookies together, deliver a small treat, or swap stories. These moments remind all of us that connection, not perfection, is what makes holidays meaningful.
Volunteer: Food pantries, senior centers, and local nonprofits often welcome extra hands during the holidays. Helping and engaging with others is one of the best ways to lift your own spirits, too.
Connections Heal
Reaching out doesn’t just help others—it helps you, too. Meaningful social connections have been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and support better physical health.
When we take time to check in on a neighbor, visit a nursing home, or simply share a moment with someone who feels forgotten, we strengthen the fabric of our community. This is important year-round, but it’s especially effective and appreciated during the holiday season.
A Season for Compassion
The Moultrie County Health Department encourages everyone to look beyond their own celebrations and remember those who might be struggling with holiday loneliness. Your kindness could brighten someone’s entire season or even change their life.
As we approach the holidays, consider giving a gift that doesn’t come wrapped: Your time, your presence, and your compassion. You never know whose heart might need it most.