S. 4816: Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults Act of 2026

This bill would create a federal grant program to help local organizations reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults and adults with disabilities.

What the grants would fund

• Area agencies on aging and other qualifying community-based nonprofit organizations could receive grants.

• Funding could be used to identify older adults and adults with disabilities who are at risk of being isolated or lonely, using screening tools or other methods approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

• Organizations could use the money to build community programs meant to increase social connection and reduce loneliness or isolation.

• Grantees could also use the money to connect people with existing community and health-related services.

• Recipients would need to evaluate how well their programs work.

Training and program support

• The Secretary of Health and Human Services would have to create or expand training programs for these organizations so they can better address and prevent social isolation and loneliness.

• The Secretary could give priority to models that coordinate with medical-legal partnerships when connecting people to support services.

Reporting and oversight

• HHS would have to report to Congress within 3 years after the law takes effect, and then every 3 years after that, on how well the programs are working.

• The department would also have to coordinate this new grant program with certain existing older-adult support programs.

Funding

• The bill would provide $62.5 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• The money would remain available until it is spent.

Definitions

• The bill defines terms like “older individual,” “adult with a disability,” “community-based organization,” “loneliness,” “social connection,” and “social isolation.”

• In general, “loneliness” means feeling alone or lacking the amount of social contact a person wants, while “social isolation” means actually having few relationships or infrequent social contact.

Relevant Companies

None found