By: Lara BrynMon | June 1, 2026
Loneliness and isolation have become such a widespread problem in the United States that in 2023 the U.S. surgeon general deemed it an epidemic, framing it as a public health issue rather than only a social one. That growing concern is the focus of the Population Health Innovation Summit on Thursday in Albany, where organizers and state officials plan to discuss how to strengthen social connection and reduce isolation.
The annual summit, hosted by the New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation, or NYSTEC, will be held at the Albany Capital Center from 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. This year’s theme is “Strengthening Social Connection.”
Kevin Owens, NYSTEC’s president and CEO, said isolation is a concern across age groups, including older adults. “I turn 59 the day after the summit. So I’m starting to think of that next phase in life. And certainly for senior citizens, there is a fear of isolation,” Owens said. Owens also pointed to the role modern technology can play in shaping how people connect. “We’ve seen the advent of social media, the advent of AI, very transformative things that are in some ways kind of looking for you. They really kind of isolate you,” he said.
“When you look at the data that literally came out in 2018, loneliness, isolation, and older adults is the equivalent of smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day,” New York State Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen said. The New York State Office for the Aging is involved in the summit and will screen a preview of a loneliness documentary. The event will also include panels focused on why connection matters for the brain and how to create systems that support more social connection, while acknowledging that technology can offer companionship but may also limit exposure to the outside world.
Olsen said addressing loneliness can start with simple actions. “Everybody can have a role in knocking on a neighbor’s door or checking in on somebody. It’s really not that hard to do. But there are a lot of people out there whether they’re older or younger that literally don’t have any,” he said.
The summit is open to organizations and the public, with registration available online.
Read the article at CBS 6 Albany.
