I write about, and see a lot of, social isolation: older adults who can no longer get out of the house or live in rural areas far from mankind or find friends and family moving or passing away. Longevity makes the odds of these scenarios even greater.

Social isolation often leads to loneliness, but I am more interested in the idea of not being socially isolated—maybe having friends, living near others with a good support system—and still feeling lonely.

The latest studies seem to focus on the potential impact of loneliness on the old. Cardiovascular disease. Dementia. Premature death.

To me, “old” does not include baby boomers (although the oldest turn 74 this year).

Of course, the ingredients that produce loneliness are bountiful in later life. It can be harder to stay connected when you are no longer in school or have a job, work from home, are an empty nester or a “solo ager” truly on your own.

As a boomer, I am getting a preview of how loneliness can seep in:

1. My office is at home
2. My kids are grown and gone
3. My husband works long hours and travels frequently
4. Close friends have started being away for long chunks of time. They’re visiting, or spending time with, their adult children or grandchildren, taking trips while they are still able, or, yes, first world problem, spending increasing time at their second home. They are not available the way they used to be.

Nor am I. Between flying to conferences or 3,000 miles away to see my young grandchildren every other month, I am around less, too.

I’ve read articles about antidotes to loneliness for older adults —I’ve written many of them! But I think that if we focus solely on its impact on the old, we are ignoring, and missing, younger generations. After all, age is only a number.