Social Isolation In Later Life Research Articles

Introducing virtual reality to older adults: A qualitative analysis of a co-design innovation with care staff

Previous studies of Virtual Reality (VR) in aged care settings have demonstrated that the benefits can be multiple, including improved social connection and engagement and reduced social isolation in later life. However, there remains a lack of widespread uptake of VR in aged care facilities. This prompts an important question: Given the potential benefits, why is there such poor engagement in VR by aged care facilities? The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the experience of introducing VR into an aged care facility. Our innovative approach supported care staff to introduce VR into aged care facilities. Fieldwork diaries and focus group discussions were used to document experiences of introducing VR, including the obstacles, challenges and benefits and the adaptations to aged care environments that were required to accommodate new VR activities. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that VR can be an important medium to support the wellbeing of older residents. However, our findings also indicate that there are significant challenges associated with introducing VR, including substantial costs in time, money and institutional resources and attention. This study concludes that, to be successful, VR requires substantive care and relational resources from both staff and residents that are only visible when paying attention to the contextual adjustments required to introduce the technology to a new setting. This suggests that other research on gerontechnologies would likely also benefit from further attention to the role of the broader social context – including care and relational resources – in ensuring their successful design and implementation.

Perceived Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Social Support Resources of Frail Older People Ageing in Place Alone in Italy.

This paper presents some findings from the IN-AGE ("Inclusive ageing in place") study, which the authors carried out in 2019 in Italy. It explores the available social support resources for frail older people with functional limitations ageing in place alone, and possible links between their social isolation and perceived loneliness. The authors conducted qualitative/semi-structured interviews involving 120 participants aged 65 years and over, and used a mixed-methods analysis (quantitative/qualitative). The main results show the family as the main help resource for daily activities, but also for intimate confidences against social isolation, especially when said relatives live close. Family confidants are less present when seniors are supported by friends/neighbours or/and public services. Moreover, the family is valuable for decreasing loneliness, although not always. However, some older people feel particularly alone when they are supported by public services. Such a complex context draws attention on the need of support for frail seniors living alone and could provide insights for policymakers on adequate policies for preventing and managing loneliness and social isolation in later life. This is especially relevant when family (and other) resources are not available or scarce, also considering the opportunities offered by technology, which can help seniors remain socially connected to relatives, friends and their overall community.

The long-term effects of childhood circumstances on older individuals: A systematic review.

Childhood experiences are known to shape individuals' development and can influence various aspects of life later on. Understanding the long-term effects is crucial for informing interventions and policies aimed at promoting healthy aging. This review aimed to explore the long-term effects of childhood experiences on older individuals. This systematic review comprised three distinct phases. Firstly, a systematic review was conducted, exploring databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science. Out of the 2116 studies initially identified, 24 studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Secondly, these inclusion criteria were applied to ensure that the chosen studies specifically delved into the connection between childhood experiences and outcomes in older individuals. Finally, data extraction and synthesis techniques were employed to analyze findings, facilitating the drawing of conclusions concerning the enduring impacts of childhood experiences on the well-being of older individuals. The review's findings revealed how negative experiences in childhood continue to affect older individuals in various ways. These early-life events have far-reaching consequences, profoundly impacting their physical health, making them more susceptible to chronic diseases and weakening their immune system. Additionally, they affect mental health, leading to conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Cognitive function is also affected, resulting in memory problems and cognitive decline. Furthermore, these experiences impact social relationships, affecting trust, emotional control, and social isolation in later life. This review highlighted the enduring influence of childhood circumstances on the health and well-being of older individuals. Policymakers and health care practitioners should consider these findings when developing strategies to support healthy aging and mitigate the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences.

INNOVATIONS IN AGING: CREATING A TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Abstract Social isolation impacts nearly one-quarter of community dwelling adults aged 65+ in the United States. It is associated with poor physical and mental health, cognitive decline, higher healthcare costs, and early mortality. Older adults are at greater risk because they are more likely to live alone, experience a shrinking social network from loss of family and friends, and encounter limitations with driving and mobility resulting from chronic health conditions and sensory impairments. Social isolation in later life is not new; however, the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the increased risk for negative outcomes. Reducing social isolation is a priority area for our state’s Department of Aging (DoA), and the updated State Plan on Aging highlights the need for innovative approaches to develop and strengthen initiatives addressing social isolation among older adults. The DoA is advancing multiple projects, including a partnership with our public university to create a transdisciplinary graduate fellowship program. The program brought together professional students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work and resulted in a community of practice in which fellows engaged with DoA and university faculty to share best practices and receive training in transdisciplinary research. In this session, the first presentation will focus on development of the fellowship program and highlight the success of the inaugural year; the second session will focus on the future goals of the fellowship program, and the third presentation will share how we plan to expand the partnership between our public university and our state’s Department of Aging.

The Impact of Living in Housing With Care and Support on Loneliness and Social Isolation: Findings From a Resident-Based Survey.

Housing with care is often lauded as a way to combat loneliness and social isolation in later life. This study examined whether housing with care created better outcomes for residents in terms of loneliness and social isolation than they might expect if they were living in the community. A survey was distributed to residents of housing with care as part of the Diversity in Care Environments project. It was designed to enable comparison with the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Propensity score matching was applied to identify the effect of housing with care residence on loneliness and social isolation. People living in housing with care had lower levels of loneliness than would be expected if they lived in the general community, with an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) of -0.407 (95% CI = -0.601, -0.214). In contrast, social isolation was found to be slightly higher for residents than would be expected if they were in the community (ATT = 0.134 [95% CI = 0.022, 0.247]). Higher social isolation appears driven by less frequent contact with friends and reduced organizational membership rather than any difference in contact with family and children. Our research has shown a positive impact on subjective social experiences from housing with care residence, despite a slight increase in objective social isolation. The findings underscore the importance of looking at loneliness and social isolation as distinct concepts as well as the effectiveness of housing with care at improving later-life outcomes.

There Is No Community Here: Living Alone, Place, and Older Peoples' Risk of Social Isolation

Existing research has identified significant risk factors for experiencing social isolation in later life including chronic health conditions, mobility impairments, and living alone among others. Although many older people who live alone maintain active social lives, living alone remains a top predictor of social isolation. Less is known about other types of risk factors, such as place-based risks and social exclusion. Despite calls to examine the role of place and social exclusion in social isolation risk, few studies have investigated the links. Models of isolation risk have often omitted place-based factors and social exclusion and focused largely on individual-level risks. In order to address these gaps, this paper presents the findings of 17 in-depth, qualitative interviews with community-dwelling older people who live alone (aged 65-93). Participants were recruited using a theoretical sampling strategy to ensure that a diverse range of neighbourhood types were represented among the participants (e.g., walkable vs. car-dependent neighbourhoods). Interview transcripts were analyzed using a constructivist grounded approach resulting in several major themes. Participants described aspects of their local environments as shaping their risk of isolation including infrastructure and amenities delivered in place, and neighbourhood makeup, among others. These themes are further examined through the lens of place-based exclusion and used to conceptualize how dimensions of both place and social exclusion fit into the model of known isolation risk factors. An adapted model of risk is presented to guide future research and intervention planning.

Social Isolation in Later Life: The Importance of Place, Disadvantage and Diversity

ABSTRACT Social isolation among older people is a complex social problem and growing policy concern. This study investigated social isolation under the auspices of the Hamilton Senior Isolation Impact Plan, a government funded program in Canada. It situates the study of social isolation in a unique region of Ontario and involved 7 focus groups and 32 interviews with older people and stakeholders. Results outline how place and spatial relations can create and/or reinforce isolation; how addressing social isolation requires attention to the relationship between poverty, inequality and disadvantage; and how regional experiences of isolation may differ substantially from what is assumed, where diversity and the needs of particular sub-populations of older people are concerned. Findings highlight the need to broaden policy and practice efforts on social isolation to better include diverse groups of older people who may be poorly served by the agenda of connection alone.

LINKING LIVES: PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION

Resulting from social, economic, and environmental disadvantage in vulnerable communities, health inequities have systematically created greater obstacles to aging. Despite the adversity of their lives, or perhaps because of it, older adults from vulnerable populations embody an Iridescent Life Course, displaying remarkable resilience and resistance, yet are at greater risk of health disparities and social isolation in later life. In the U.S. social isolation has reached epidemic proportions, creating a largely invisible public health crisis with few resources for an aging population. In her presentation, Professor Karen Fredriksen Goldsen will share her landmark longitudinal research on LGBT older adults, who have historically confronted social exclusion, with divergent pathways leading to social isolation. She will discuss the development and testing of community evidence-based interventions and how these findings can provide effective alternatives for anyone living in isolation as well as promote health equity, creating a future for full aging potential.

DISABLEMENT IN CONTEXT: DO SOCIAL NETWORKS MODERATE THE IMPACT OF INCREASING FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT ON WELL-BEING?

Older adults with disabilities face a higher risk of experiencing poor health and social isolation in later life. Prior research has shown that social factors such as supportive relationships can modify disablement trajectories and reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes. Although research has considered the functional benefits of relationships through examining mechanisms like social support provision, the effects of network structure on the disablement process are not well understood. This study examines multiple social network mechanisms to explain the link between disability, health, and social participation among older adults. We ask, do social networks characteristics mediate or moderate the effects of increasing functional impairment on health and social participation? We analyze longitudinal panel data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project 2005 & 2010, including 2,261 adults aged 57-85. Respondents named 9,587 network members in 2005. We model indicators of health and social participation at 5-year follow-up using trajectories of functional impairment and social network characteristics. We find that larger, denser, and more supportive networks are associated with better health and more frequent social activity at follow-up. Furthermore, social network structure mediates the relationship between increasing functional impairment and health, but moderates the effect of impairment on social participation. For example, participants with more dense networks are more likely to maintain high social activity at follow-up, even at relatively high levels of impairment. This study demonstrates that functional impairments are not inherently disabling. Instead, personal and social resources can reduce the potential burdens of impairment in individuals’ lives.

Social Isolation in Later Life: Extending the Conversation.

As Canada's population continues to age, social isolation among older people is a growing concern and national-level priority. Although much is known about individual-level risks and negative health outcomes associated with social isolation in later life, the impact of life course trajectories and the more collective experiences are seldom considered. Current definitions and program responses tend to rely on individualized approaches to social isolation. Here, we argue that the conversation be extended to consider the social and cultural aspects of social isolation among older people. Specifically, we suggest that definitions and approaches consider three particular dimensions: temporal factors, spatial factors, and the relationship between social isolation and exclusion. Doing so, we argue, would result in a more inclusive approach to social isolation in late life, and the development of capacity to address social isolation among a wide range of older people, particularly the needs of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

Understanding and alleviating loneliness in later life: perspectives of older people

Purpose There is extensive empirical literature that has sought to establish the prevalence of, and risk factors for, loneliness and social isolation in later life. Traditional empirical gerontological approaches have characterised loneliness as a linear experience that is both pathological and easily relieved with external intervention. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of qualitative interview data to reveal the possible complexities in understanding loneliness, including conceptual considerations for the dynamic and multi-dimensional aspects of loneliness. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on two different studies where the purpose was to qualitatively examine the meaning of loneliness in the lives of older people and how they understood loneliness in the context of their daily life (n=37). Findings Interviews with “lonely” older people revealed that loneliness is a complex and dynamic experience. The authors also identified a range of internal and external factors that contribute to vulnerability for loneliness as well as resources to alleviate it. Originality/value The dynamic and multi-dimensional characteristics of loneliness in older people may help explain why community-based interventions to diminish it may be so challenging.

Preventing social isolation in later life: findings and insights from a pilot Queensland intervention study

ABSTRACTThe isolation of older people is recognised as a major social problem in contemporary Western society. While the risk factors and social or health outcomes of isolation and loneliness in later life are well documented, evidence regarding the effectiveness of programmes aimed at reducing social isolation in older people remains inconclusive. This paper reports on the challenges of attempting to undertake a rigorous evaluation of three demonstration pilot projects targeting older people at risk of social isolation, conducted within different social settings in Queensland, Australia. The demonstration projects were part of the Queensland Cross-Government Project to Reduce Social Isolation in Older People (CGPRSIOP) led by the Office for Seniors within the Queensland Department of Communities. In the absence of good evaluation of programmes aimed at social isolation, this government-run programme incorporated validated psychological measures to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. While use of these measures suggested some promising results, the focus of this paper is on the methodological and practical challenges associated with utilising evaluation measures in community-based interventions. The detailed consideration of the methodological issues involved in this programme highlights some key lessons and offers new insights into evaluating interventions for reducing social isolation.

The Social World of Older People: Understanding Loneliness and Social Isolation in Later Life, Christina Victor, Sasha Scambler and John Bond, Maidenhead, Open University Press/McGraw Hill Education, 2009, pp. ix + 262, ISBN 978-0-335-21521-8 (pbk), 22.99

Christina Victor, Sasha Scambler and John Bond have produced an important contribution to our collective understanding of the realities and nuisances of the social world of older people. In a society that is endemically ageist and that presents older people as withdrawn, isolated, unhappy, sad and thereby lonely, this book presents a very different picture of the social world that people in later life experience. In presenting an alternative perspective to the stereotypical image of older people, the authors have drawn on the outcomes of their own ESRC-funded research. The disappointment, in some respects, is that their research is now some ten years old and, in the intervening period, the social world of older people has inevitably changed in terms not only of the expectations of different cohorts, but also of the circumstances in which older people are living their lives. However, whilst the research was undertaken some time ago, the book provides the considerable added value of a comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date review of the research that has been undertaken in respect of loneliness and social isolation in later life since the Second World War. As such, gathered together in this volume is an extremely good analysis and overview of the earlier and more recent research and how the authors' own findings relate to this body of work.

Being alone in later life: loneliness, social isolation and living alone

IntroductionThe context for the review of loneliness and social isolation in later life is that of ‘successful aging’ and ‘quality of life’. The term ‘quality of life‘ includes a broad range of areas of life and there is little agreement about the definition of the term. Models of quality of life range from identification of ‘life satisfaction’ or ‘social wellbeing’ to models based upon concepts of independence, control, and social and cognitive competence. However, regardless of how the concept of quality of life is defined, research has consistently demonstrated the importance of social and family relationships in the definition of a ‘good quality of life’.

Neighborhood deterioration and social isolation in later life.

The purpose of this study is to test a conceptual model that attempts to show how selected neighborhood characteristics are related to social isolation in later life. This model specifies that older adults with low levels of educational attainment are more likely to experience financial problems and that elderly people who are confronted by financial difficulties are more likely to reside in dilapidated neighborhoods. The model further predicts that deteriorated neighborhoods in turn tend to promote distrust of others and older adults who are more distrustful of others tend to be more socially isolated. Based on data provided by a nationwide survey of elderly people, subsequent analyses revealed strong support for the theoretical sequence described above.