Everyone experiences loneliness. For many, especially our most vulnerable, this loneliness can become chronic. Your age, gender, race and socioeconomic background does not matter. Even those with strong social support networks can still experience loneliness.
VA neurologist Dr. Indira Subramanian says a happily married couple “…can be lonely together.” That’s because loneliness is subjective. It is not a character flaw. It’s the gap between your current state of connection and your desired state. Many of our Veterans feel a loss of connection soon after discharge or during the latter stages of life when many of their family and friends have moved or passed away.
Loneliness has been identified by doctors, nurses and social workers for decades. Many Veterans do not receive regular visitors or phone calls. These Veterans are more likely to present at emergency departments. They are more likely to phone crisis lines. And they are more likely to develop clinical conditions such as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideations. Some develop substance abuse issues.
VA has recognized the issue of loneliness and offers an array of programs to support Veterans who may be struggling with it. Programs include pet therapy, music therapy and group therapy. In some areas, Veterans with caregivers can request weekly visitation by a trained volunteer. This has the added benefit of providing regular respite for the caregiver.
Compassionate Contact Corps combats loneliness
Since the pandemic, a new virtual social prescribing program has resonated with Veterans and volunteers alike. It’s called Compassionate Contact Corps. This program highlights the power of genuine human connection in combating loneliness and improving mental health outcomes.
Compassionate Contact Corps is a non-clinical program. A trained volunteer preferably from the community is matched with a Veteran that has been identified by their clinician as potentially benefiting from additional social connection.
The volunteer phones the Veteran weekly, usually for 15–60 minutes of meaningful conversation. It has become a signature program of American Red Cross and Soldier’s Angels, and there is significant participation from other Veteran service organizations helping to combat this issue.
If you would like to help VA support some of our most vulnerable Veterans by volunteering for Compassionate Contact Corps or any of our other amazing volunteer opportunities, please go to VA’s volunteer webpage to learn more.
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I also have PTSD, Bipolar/Major Depression Disorder and on top of that I live with Chronic Pain and most days I can barely make it to the bathroom or to the kitchen. I live alone and I deal with severe loneliness. I live in a very small town in Kansas and I don’t have any friends here and the only family I have here is my Mom and she helps when she can but she’s disabled herself and has to work a lot because she can’t survive on retirement pay. But, I know she’s busy and tired so I hate asking her for help so usually I will go without most of time which sucks. I can’t go anywhere because of the pain I’m in and I can’t take pain medication anymore because I got addicted to it and choose not to take it anymore and haven’t for about 3yrs and my doctors doesn’t know how I manage to go without it because over the counter medication and other non narcotics doesn’t work for me. I have group online with the VA and I hardly attend due to my disabilities I get hopeless and don’t really care because it’s all groups so I usually sit there for an hour just listening to them. But, I do have individual therapy once a week and she tries helping me but mainly listens to me vent and that’s cool and all but I don’t know if it’s just me but I rather someone to come over and visit me and hang out for a little bit every now and then but only if they want to because I can sense when someone is only doing it just to check off a block on their sheet… I just don’t understand why Veterans have to find out about these services or anything else by accidentally finding it on their website then they don’t even tell you how to use these services which I had to go searching on the VA website and just so y’all know you have to get your Primary Care Doctor or a Social Worker at the VA to get these services. I think this is cool but I rather have human contact in person. I hope someone reads this and maybe starts something like that. But, good luck to all Veterans I really do feel your pain and I hope we all get the help we deserve to get!! Have a great day!!
How do i get in touch with someone,I dont drive anymore so all the things I used to do I cant my wife passed quite awhile ago I do have alot of issues physically so Im very limited as to what I can do im 75 and just want to give up help
I’m a veteran of the gulf war and am sure I still experience ptsd and some loneliness from the tight friendships you develop with military service. Then there gone. I understand this but it’s still a feeling I don’t enjoy. I think it’s a worry cause!
I have had quite a few mental health providers at the Durham NC VA. Almost everyone of them was more concerned about interns than they was about me. I had a nurse who used to call me but she was told not to call me anymore when the provider I had quit me. Now I have a suicide prevention class teacher who is all book smart and not knowing how to talk to a veteran. She also takes the side of the VA staff over the veterans. Help please.
Veteran with PTSD. Stroke since May 2022. Paralysis. Wheelchair and Homebound. The caregiver is my Mother and stepfather.
I see a lot of negative comments here and everyones percpective is different. The VA isn’t perfect but they saved my life when I couldn’t save my own and there was no one else who could. So I appreciate what they do. I know people who would benefit from this program I hope they can make a difference
VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION.
“ONE IS A LONELY NUMBER”
My wife of 45yrs, passed away, going on 3yrs now. I became chronically ill, went to ER, with an obstructed air tube that my hernia elected to strangle. I coded on the surgical table, only to be revived and put under medical induced, to complete the emergency surgery, and my future was very grim. I awoke with a colostomy, and if that isnt lonely, but mainting my sense of humor, i named this thing “HENRY”.
I have my wifes’ chiuachua, and we spend a lot of time together.
I now live withe my daughter and son n law and two grandsons. All this is very well, and i am ever grateful. I am blessed. But, i am still ever lonesome. I try to get out and walk and meet people, but i still come home to an empty room, of my wifes laughter at my dumb jokes. I cry, how or why life is fashioned in this manner, and try to understand our Lords ideas, of “love each other, as he has loved us”.
Sometimes very hard to do, when the World is in such a mess. Selfishness, greed, and no respect for each other.
Anyway “ONE IS A LONELY NUMBER”
Kind Regards
Thank you I guess timing is everything I’m a disabled veteran dealing with this exact situation I just happen to be surfing on my phone and came across this I’m definitely going to look into this socially misunderstood and disrespect of my lonely issues is what I’m been going through for quite sometime I’m ready for PEACE.
My father is feeling the emotions of loneliness. He has lost both is wives and recently his youngest and only son. Sisters, mother, and a family dog who 2as taken by a neighbor while in hospital undecare for covid. He talks about given up I’m only one around him and seems to feel uncomfortable speaking with me about everything going on with him.
All the complaints below, the News of the Compassionate Contact Corps is cause enough for joy. This program highlights the power of genuine human connection without a way to connect. As per usual. Get yourself some peanuts and bird seed. Go outside and hang a bird feeder. Feed the squirrels peanuts, so they will leave the bird feeder alone. Listen to some music and shake your booty. Smile. That will help you feel better. Talk to the birds and squirrels, and you too could feel like Mary Frikin’ Poppins.
I understand combating my loneliness… I have recently become homeless and staying with your friend, and I feel more than I ever have in my entire life… dealing with it? I’m lucky to find my happy thought every day.
I AM INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING
We are all divorced or alone isolated by our experiences. What we need are dedicated mixer’s to bring people together for companionship with those who understand our challenges we need wives and partners to help us heal and in doing so we heal the world together
I am a veteran who is lonely,have PTSD,bi polar, and several other things going on, I been asking for help for 25 years only to get one excuse after another. Disrespected by the VA doctors who think they can talk down to us like we are there children. You people always putting these articles out to make yourselves feel good, your articles are just another thing to say to the public, you people don’t DO NOTHING, BECAUSE YOU KNOW NOTHING!! You spend 15 minutes on the phone with us and think you have cured us or done anything. You people need to Stop your lies to us veterans we are not fools or idiots, Stop writing your articles because you don’t help us your just trying to pat yourselves on the back,get a life because we don’t need you or your lies!! Simple as that!!!
I am a Veteran and loneliness and isolation is what we do because we feel and know people don’t understand what we have been through especially when you have been in a WAR, the thoughts carry constantly and continually want go away and HEAVEN for bid when you mention PTSD PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU ARE CRAZY. I CONSTANTLY HEARGET OVER IT
This sound like a good idea. There are Veterans who are home bound living by themselves without family or friends who May have passed away or just don’t want to call or check on them. I know for me with PTSD it’s hard to talk to my siblings who are veterans too with PTSD Especially when I talk to my older brother a Vietnam vet. he will start off talking calm then in the middle our conversation he start yelling in my ear and my anxiety states I have to tell him to lower his voice that I can’t talk that yelling in my ear. I told him if he keep doing it that I wasn’t going to call him. He yell in my sisters ear too & she can’t take it either. Both myself & my sister have PTSD & was in the military I done 24 years total. My sister lives in Alabama all alone. I live in Michigan with my adult kids. My sister & I talk just about every other day she will call me for advice on something that might have upset her. She tells me that she can talk to me because I aways calm her down . out of 10 children my mom had it was 7 of us who joined the military 2 sets of twins we all are Army veterans. I asked my phycologist at the VA hospital how do a veteran with PTSD deal with another Veteran with PTSD especially if it’s a family member. She told me that she didn’t know that this was something new to her once I brought it up. I asked her about joining a virtual women’s group at the VA & she said she will check on it but I never got a response back. I know I was in so many groups in my community & did volunteer work as well before this COVID pandemic hit & now I’m not in them because my health condition changed. I have heart failure & have to take it easy.
If I could only get me another pet to replace the one I just lost
That would help me a lot. I just moved by myself
Let’s see you allow a nurse practitioner to out weigh a assistant professor of a university a full doctor and deny a veterans claim even though a historical case was won by a veteran for the same thing! As the VA says the VA Way Deny Untill They Die!
This sounds like an awesome program, and I’m glad there is a link for those who want to volunteer. But as a veteran who feels loneliness, but isn’t diagnosed, where’s our link to assist veterans get into this program. I’d be all over that link!
I was wondering the same thing. LOL But as I got lost in the rabbit hole of comments, A veteran shated you have to get a referral from your PCP first. I’m going to inquire at my next VA visit.
I was wondering the same thing. LOL But as I got lost in the rabbit hole of comments, A veteran shared you have to get a referral from your PCP first. I’m going to inquire at my next VA visit.
That sounds great. I am alone, depressed, and so lonely I have whole conversations with imaginary people.
I could really use this.
Can you please do an article regarding the veterans for whom these wonderful volunteers are there ?
This article is only about volunteers and nothing is mentioned about how the vet can get help from it.
A contact or even a phone number for the people who need the service would be great.
What I really mean to say about your article is WTF!
Thank you for not helping veterans at all.
Again another veteran understands what we already know, our government are liars and bullsht artists to make themselves look like they are trying to help us, but when we do go you get the DD THE DISCOURAGED DEPARTMENT the great va!! When we speak out we are wrong, when we stand up they call the cops, someone please tell me actually what the government does besides screwing us veterans around for the past 100 years,think about it ww1 ,WW2, Korean, PTSD, loneliness, stress, unless you are a veteran, they will never understand us, and never be able to help us realistically!!! Family most of the time is the best for us!!
I have ask for help with completing paperwork for wills, medical power of attorney and paperwork on the PACT Act 2022. No one is listening . Asked for senior disability and womans support group. And agai no one hears me. I am alone and i hate it.
Diana I am also a veteran, screaming, yelling, first started asking for help and NO ONE LISTENING, you are absolutely right about this they write all these articles like there helping veterans and not doing sht for us, thank you for speaking out only we listen to one another.
I understand Diana. I want a woman’s support group and they kept telling me that they were getting one soon. I haven’t seen any yet. It’s very difficult to talk about certain topics in a men’s group. I won’t even try.
How does the Veteran sign up for this program? There was no link provided.
10-4! Seems obvious, how do they screw that up :)
I begged the VA to help me with loneliness and depression. They ghosted me after my exam. Told me they could help me. BS!!! All Lies
I was going to say the same thing.
Also you would be going down a rabbit hole to figure how to volunteer. That link takes you back to a main page.
So maybe we all we got.
Retired Army-Hawaii
My sister is about to move to the country and I will be left alone in Katy with no family members to check on me. I am already feeling lonely. It has been my family that has kept my PTSD down. Not sure where to turn to.
I would have to agree. I had cancer 3 times now the last time almost pushed me over the edge. Was diagnosed with ptsd after this. I have had help from nurses and maybe 2 doctors. They seem to talk down to vets not all but some. If anyone would like to talk or needs some help i will try to help you out. Live in Az . yes its very lonely at times but i enjoy being by myself.