The detrimental health effects of loneliness have been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Considering that loneliness affects 43 percent of the 40 million people over the age of 65, this problem is enormous in scope and devastating to both our economy and our sense of social responsibility.

Creating and strengthening social connections is a significant differentiator for Element3 Health. Researchers have discovered that inclusion in clubs, groups and social activities offers a significant protection against loneliness and social isolation – improving health, quality of life and cost of care. In fact, several studies have established that the positive effects of being socially connected are stronger than the negative effects of social isolation.

Element3 Health’s GroupWorks platform brings older adults together around their passions, establishing connections to group activities that bring enjoyment, fulfillment and purpose to their lives. In doing so, GroupWorks creates the positive bonds that counter the proven negative effects of loneliness. It is a free club management platform that makes it easier for older adults to socialize – all while reducing their risk of heart disease, diabetes and cognitive decline.

An estimated 5.1 million Americans aged 65 years or older currently has Alzheimer’s disease, the most well-known form of cognitive impairment. And this number is expected to rise to 15 million by 2060. Cognitive Decline is associated $11 billion in Medicare Spending, representing an increase of 44% in medical costs compared with adults who do not suffer from mild cognitive decline.

Extensive data demonstrates a correlation between engaging in social activities and staving off the debilitating effects of dementia. In fact, a study out of Chicago found that social interaction can decrease the rate of cognitive decline in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by as much as 47 percent per year.

In this respect, the social and physical interactions enabled by Element3 Health’s GroupWorks platform serve as powerful counter to the debilitating effects of dementia and could lead to a reduction in healthcare spending by $3,500 per person per year or more in the treatment of dementia alone.

The link between physical activity and health is well understood. What is harder to appreciate is why so many Americans remain sedentary. For some, inadequate levels of exercise is a result of injury or disability. For others, it’s a matter of timing and resources. At Element3 Health we seek to address the entire mosaic of barriers to exercise, getting people moving to the degree that they can and helping them to reduce their risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic ailments.

A Medicare study found that by engaging in fitness programs and physical activity, individuals are able to reduce their annual spending by between $500 and $1,186. While gym memberships help get people moving, 80 percent of those eligible for free gym membership programs don’t take advantage of the benefit. For many of these people, GroupWorks offers the opportunity to engage in activities they love with like-minded adults. By tapping into people’s passions, Element3’s GroupWorks platform seeks to provide a more attractive alternative to the gym.

With clubs as varied as hiking and biking to pickleball and line-dancing, GroupWorks gives adults over the age of 50 access to physical activities that resonate with them. This increases activity levels while creating social networks – resulting in better health and reduced healthcare spending.