Reducing loneliness amongst older people: a systematic search and narrative review
Brian Taylor2014, Aging & Mental Health
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Abstract
Loneliness is a significant risk to older people's mental health and it is possible that social therapeutic interventions have a key role in reducing this threat to individual well-being. To examine whether this is the case, a literature review, using seven databases, was undertaken using search terms relating to the themes of ageing, loneliness and social support with the objective of attempting to find effective interventions. A total of 17 relevant studies relating to loneliness interventions were analysed. Out of this total, three reporting on new technologies and one on a group work intervention identified significant reductions in loneliness. None of the one to one interventions examined reported a significant impact on loneliness.
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Interventions for loneliness and social isolation
• Social isolation is the lack of social contact or support; loneliness is the feeling of being alone or isolated. • Loneliness is a multifaceted issue and may not be simply resolved by tackling one aspect alone. • General practitioners may be well-placed to identify people who are, or who are at risk of, loneliness and social isolation. • Overall, evidence of effective interventions is limited, but group-based activities and support that provide opportunities for social interaction appear to show some promise in addressing isolation and loneliness. • The Campaign to End Loneliness produced a toolkit to support CCGs and Health and Wellbeing Boards understand, identify, commission and evaluate interventions to tackle loneliness in older people.
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may also contact any of the faculty investigators listed at the bottom of this letter. I hope that the results of my study will be beneficial to [location], to other long term care and community facilities, as well as the broader research community. I very much look forward to speaking with you and thank you in advance for your assistance with this project.
What is the impact on health and wellbeing of interventions that foster respect and social inclusion in community-residing older adults? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies
Systematic Reviews, 2018
Background: Many interventions have been developed to promote respect and social inclusion among older people, but the evidence on their impacts on health has not been synthesised. This systematic review aims to appraise the state of the evidence across the quantitative and qualitative literature. Methods: Eligible studies published between 1990 and 2015 were identified by scanning seven bibliographic databases using a pre-piloted strategy, searching grey literature and contacting experts. Studies were included if they assessed the impact (quantitatively) and/or perceived impact (qualitatively) of an intervention promoting respect and social inclusion on the physical or mental health of community-residing people aged 60 years and older. Titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility by one reviewer. A second reviewer independently screened a 10% random sample. Full texts were screened for eligibility by one reviewer, with verification by another reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed using standardised tools. Findings were summarised using narrative synthesis, harvest plots and logic models to depict the potential pathways to health outcomes. Results: Of the 27,354 records retrieved, 40 studies (23 quantitative, 6 qualitative, 11 mixed methods) were included. All studies were conducted in high and upper middle-income countries. Interventions involved mentoring, intergenerational and multi-activity programmes, dancing, music and singing, art and culture and information-communication technology. Most studies (n = 24) were at high or moderate risk of bias. Music and singing, intergenerational interventions, art and culture and multi-activity interventions were associated with an overall positive impact on health outcomes. This included depression (n = 3), wellbeing (n = 3), subjective health (n = 2), quality of life (n = 2), perceived stress and mental health (n = 2) and physical health (n = 2). Qualitative studies offered explanations for mediating factors (e.g. improved self-esteem) that may lead to improved health outcomes and contributed to the assessment of causation. Conclusions: Whilst this review suggests that some interventions may positively impact on the health outcomes of older people, and identified mediating factors to health outcomes, the evidence is based on studies with heterogeneous methodologies. Many of the interventions were delivered as projects to selected groups, raising important questions about the feasibility of wider implementation and the potential for population-wide benefits.
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