March 2025 | SJ Mag Media

Loneliness is more than a feeling – it’s a public health crisis.

2.3 million residents in New Jersey suffer from loneliness or social isolation, a statistic revealed in a 2023 study by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The issue affects all demographics, from college students to seniors, with devastating impacts on both mental and physical health.

“This is nothing new, but what happened is that Covid shined a light on an already existing issue, then made it worse,” says Renee Carrillo, Oaks Integrated Care Director of Integrated Case Management Services in Burlington and Mercer Counties as well as Director of Senior Well Being. 

“There are so many different reasons for people to be isolated,” she says. “If someone just lost a loved one and they’re going through grief, loneliness is going to come with that. If someone is a caregiver to an elderly parent with dementia, that often comes with some degree of isolation. These people need an outlet. They need extra support.”

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