scholarly journals Strategies Older Adults Used During COVID-19 to Stay Connected

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 23-24
Author(s):  
Brad Doebbeling ◽  
Haley Harelson ◽  
Michelle Houchins ◽  
Hallie Wine ◽  
Claire Pishko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Unintended Consequence ◽  
Outdoor Activities ◽  
Community Or ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Virtual Events ◽  
At Home

Abstract An unintended consequence of the physical distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may be increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify successful strategies used in avoiding social isolation and feelings of loneliness in older adults (50+) during the pandemic. Methods Older adults (n=22) selected from a longitudinal study, Aging In the Time of COVID-19, who did not report loneliness, participated in a semi-structured interview via zoom. Individuals were asked a series of questions about how their lives were impacted by the pandemic and what they did to avoid social isolation and loneliness. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. transcripts were analyzed and categorized to identify common strategies. Results Participants were primarily female and white (100%) with a mean age of 64.7 years. Preliminary findings (n=5) suggest older adults developed several effective strategies for combating social isolation and feelings of loneliness, including purposely reaching out and “checking in” on others; engaging in exercise, either alone or with others, and engaging in outdoor activities, such as socially distanced in-person encounters. Other effective strategies included virtual events (e.g. community or local events, museums or concerts, etc.), using technology to communicate with friends and family, and practicing gratitude consistently. Conclusions Although older adults have been encouraged to stay at home and physically distanced throughout the pandemic, they have found ways to remain socially connected with friends, family, and community, despite not being physically together.

scholarly journals Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

Measuring Indoor Life-Space Mobility at Home in Older Adults With Difficulty to Perform Outdoor Activities

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Hashidate ◽  
Hiroyuki Shimada ◽  
Taizo Shiomi ◽  
Misato Shibata ◽  
Keisuke Sawada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Space ◽  
Outdoor Activities ◽  
At Home

scholarly journals The Longitudinal Relationships Between Social Isolation, Frailty, and Health Outcomes Among Canadian Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 173-174
Author(s):  
Fereshteh Mehrabi ◽  
François Béland
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Social isolation and frailty are global public health issues that may lead to poor health outcomes. We tested the two following hypotheses: 1) changes in social isolation and frailty are associated with adverse health outcomes over two years, 2) the associations between social isolation and health vary across different levels of frailty. We estimated a series of latent growth models to test our hypotheses using data from the FRéLE longitudinal study among 1643 Canadian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and over. Missing data were handled by pattern mixture models with the assumption of missing not at random. We measured social isolation through social participation, social networks, and social support from different social ties. We assessed frailty using Fried’s criteria. Our results revealed that higher frailty at baseline was associated with a higher rate of comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline over two years. Less social participation at baseline was associated with comorbidity, depression, and changes in cognitive decline. Less social support from friends, children, partner, and family at baseline was associated with comorbidity, cognitive decline, and changes in depression. Fewer contacts with grandchildren were related to cognitive decline over time. The associations of receiving less support from partner with depression and participating less in social activities with comorbidity, depression, and cognitive decline were higher among frail or prefrail than robust older adults over time. This longitudinal study suggests that intimate connectedness and social participation may ameliorate health status in frail older populations, highlighting the importance of age-friendly city policies.

scholarly journals The Effect of Technology Use in Reducing Social Isolation or Loneliness in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 927-927
Author(s):  
Yoon Chung Kim ◽  
Gail Kohn ◽  
Carenado Davis ◽  
Pamela Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
National Emergency

Abstract The US population over 65 is projected to increase to 21% by 2050. Given mobility issues arising from health concerns, economic status changes, loss of friends and partners, older people are at a higher risk for social isolation and loneliness. Since the declaration of national emergency for COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, many older adults have not been able to connect with others in traditional ways. Instead, activities and contacts have been facilitated virtually via videoconferencing or phone calls to maintain physical and social distance. Amidst COVID-19, the transition to using technologies to connect socially and reduce loneliness has been a critical factor in preventing social isolation and loneliness. Identifying effective strategies involving the use of technology, designing new ways to deliver services virtually, and developing educational programs to promote technology is vitally necessary. This systematic review explored the relationship between technology use and social isolation or loneliness, and examined interventions that reduced social isolation in older adults. A unified strategy was used to systematically search seven databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and AgeLine) to examine qualitative and quantitative studies published in English between 2010 and 2020. Preliminary results indicate that technology can alleviate social isolation and loneliness in older adults despite some mixed results. The findings of this study will provide a foundation for policymakers and practitioners to shape policies and design programs that help older adults to alleviate social isolation and loneliness, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Association between social isolation and depression onset among older adults: a cross-national longitudinal study in England and Japan

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e045834
Author(s):  
Taiji Noguchi ◽  
Masashige Saito ◽  
Jun Aida ◽  
Noriko Cable ◽  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression

ObjectiveSocial isolation is a risk factor for depression in older age. However, little is known regarding whether its impact varies depending on country-specific cultural contexts regarding social relationships. The present study examined the association of social isolation with depression onset among older adults in England, which has taken advanced measures against social isolation, and Japan, a super-aged society with a rapidly increasing number of socially isolated people.DesignProspective longitudinal study.SettingWe used data from two ongoing studies: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES).ParticipantsOlder adults aged ≥65 years without depression at baseline were followed up regarding depression onset for 2 years (2010/2011–2012/2013) for the ELSA and 2.5 years (2010/2011–2013) for the JAGES.Primary outcome measureDepression was assessed with eight items from the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for the ELSA and Geriatric Depression Scale for the JAGES. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate social isolation using multiple parameters (marital status; interaction with children, relatives and friends; and social participation).ResultsThe data of 3331 respondents from the ELSA and 33 127 from the JAGES were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that social isolation was significantly associated with depression onset in both countries. In the ELSA, poor interaction with children was marginally associated with depression onset, while in the JAGES, poor interaction with children and no social participation significantly affected depression onset.ConclusionsDespite variations in cultural background, social isolation was associated with depression onset in both England and Japan. Addressing social isolation to safeguard older adults’ mental health must be globally prioritised.

scholarly journals 24 Loneliness, Social Isolation and Frailty Among Older Adults in England: Results From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i7-i11
Author(s):  
K Davies ◽  
A Maharani ◽  
T Chandola ◽  
C Todd ◽  
N Pendleton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Isolation Measure ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
English Longitudinal Study

Abstract Introduction Ten percent of over 65 s and between a quarter and half of over 85 s are frail. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased falls, rates of hospitalisation and mortality. Lonely and socially isolated older adults may also be at risk of frailty. We examined the relationship between loneliness, social isolation and incident frailty among older adults in England longitudinally over 12 years. Methods The study sample are 9,171 older adults aged ≥50 years participating in a population representative longitudinal panel survey, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing Waves 2–8. To define frailty across the biannual waves, we used the Frailty Index (FI), analysed continuously and into categories (FI ≤0.08 non-frail, 0.08–0.25 pre-frail and ≥ 0.25–1 frail). We used baseline (Wave 2): loneliness measure using the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale; social isolation measure using previously reported method (Banks et al. The Institute for Fiscal Studies. 2006.). Both were categorised into low/medium/high. To examine relationships, we used linear mixed methods modelling (for the continuous FI), and Cox proportional hazard model (for the categorical FI). Results Loneliness (β = 0.023; 95% CI = 0.022, 0.025) and social isolation (β = 0.007; 95% CI = 0.003, 0.010) were significantly associated with increased FI, after adjusting for cofounders (gender, age, marital status, smoking status and wealth). There was a 60% greater relative risk of belonging to the frail class with a medium loneliness score compared to low (HR = 1.570; 95% CI 1.492, 1.652) and a 160% greater relative risk with high loneliness score compared to low (HR = 2.621; 95% CI 2.488, 2.761). Although less pronounced, there was a 1% greater relative risk of developing frailty with a medium social isolation score compared to low (HR = 1.010, 95% CI 1.010, 1.197) and a 30% greater relative risk with high social isolation score compared to low (HR = 1.267; 95% CI 1.154, 1.390). Conclusions Our research indicates both loneliness and social isolation increase risk of developing frailty, expanding on previous evidence. This provides further support to the importance of understanding approaches to promote social inclusion of older adults.

scholarly journals Internet use, social isolation and loneliness in older adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Stephanie Stockwell ◽  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Sarah E. Jackson ◽  
Abi Fisher ◽  
Lin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
English Longitudinal Study

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore associations between internet/email use in a large sample of older English adults with their social isolation and loneliness. Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing Wave 8 were used, with complete data available for 4,492 men and women aged ⩾ 50 years (mean age = 64.3, standard deviation = 13.3; 51.7% males). Binomial logistic regression was used to analyse cross-sectional associations between internet/email use and social isolation and loneliness. The majority of older adults reported using the internet/email every day (69.3%), fewer participants reported once a week (8.5%), once a month (2.6%), once every three months (0.7%), less than every three months (1.5%) and never (17.4%). No significant associations were found between internet/email use and loneliness, however, non-linear associations were found for social isolation. Older adults using the internet/email either once a week (odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.72) or once a month (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45–0.80) were significantly less likely to be socially isolated than every day users; those using internet/email less than once every three months were significantly more likely to be socially isolated than every day users (OR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.28–6.40). Once every three months and never users showed no difference in social isolation compared with every day users. Weak associations were found between different online activities and loneliness, and strong associations were found with social isolation. The study updated knowledge of older adults’ internet/email habits, devices used and activities engaged in online. Findings may be important for the design of digital behaviour change interventions in older adults, particularly in groups at risk of or interventions targeting loneliness and/or social isolation.

scholarly journals Is Physical Activity Associated With Loneliness or Social Isolation in Older Adults? Results of a Longitudinal Analysis Using the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ilona I. McMullan ◽  
Brendan P. Bunting ◽  
Annette Burns ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Connor Cunningham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Longitudinal Association ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
The University ◽  
Health And Well Being

Social relationships are central to the health and well-being of older adults. Evidence exploring the association of physical activity (PA) with social isolation and loneliness is limited. This study uses a path analysis to investigate the longitudinal association between loneliness and social isolation with PA using the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Higher levels of social isolation measured using the Berkman–Syme Social Network Index were directly and indirectly associated with lower levels of walking, moderate PA, and vigorous PA over 6 years. Additionally, higher levels of walking were associated with lower levels of loneliness measured using a modified version of the University of California, Los Angeles loneliness scale over a 3-year period. Future interventions should target individuals who are more socially isolated and explore the effects of different types of PA on loneliness over time.

scholarly journals New Networks, New Connections: Geriatric Student Scholars Embrace Adaptive Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 476-476
Author(s):  
Robin McAtee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Dental Hygiene ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Geriatric Education ◽  
Virtual Events

Abstract The Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AR’s GWEP) embraces, nurtures, and encourages students with a passion for caring for older adults. Each year five geriatric scholars are chosen from across the spectrum of health services schools (MD, RN, PT, PA, Pharm D, dental hygiene, etc.) to enhance their geriatric knowledge and experience. Requirements focus on geriatric academic and community-based opportunities. However, these opportunities drastically changed with the pandemic. Therefore, the students became very innovative as they trudged forward to meet and exceed the scholar objectives. They participated in various virtual events to fulfil their academic and community participation requirements. They worked together to develop and implement an interdisciplinary final project that marketed to and engaged rural isolated older adults in a fun educational event aimed at preventing social isolation in older adults and caregivers. Students learned how to connect to and bridge the digital divide with isolated rural older adults.

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