scholarly journals Correlates of Social Isolation Among Minority Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 294-295
Author(s):  
Omolola Adepoju ◽  
Daniel Howard ◽  
Kendra Smith ◽  
Luz Herrera ◽  
Daikwon Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Main Independent Variable ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Community Supports

Abstract Background Over the past year, engagement with older adults has been severely curtailed given the high rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in this population. This study examined the correlates of social isolation among African American and LatinX older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Working with community-based organizations and senior living centers, we administered a survey to older adults 55+, in the Houston metroplex, between 11/2020 and 01/2021 (n=575). The survey assessed COVID-19 prevention behaviors and health-related social needs. Responses to “How often do you feel lonely or isolated from those around you?” were used to create a dichotomous social isolation dependent variable. The main independent variable, family/community support, was based on responses to the validated question "If for any reason you need help with day-to-day activities such as bathing, preparing meals, shopping, managing finances, etc., do you get the help you need?" Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for socioeconomic status, medical conditions, positive COVID test (for self or family), COVID-19 prevention behaviors, and emergency preparedness levels was used. Results Limited family/community support was strongly associated with social isolation (OR=6.2; p<0.01), as was having any chronic condition (OR=2.9, p=0.02). Females and seniors who reported daily social distancing were more likely to report being socially isolated (OR=2.4, p=0.04; OR=1.09; p=0.09, respectively). Of all chronic conditions examined, diabetes was the single strongest predictor of social isolation (OR=2.49, p=0.02). Conclusion Being female, having diabetes and limited family/community supports are associated with COVID-19-induced social isolation in African American and Latinx communities.

Addressing COVID-19 Worry and Social Isolation in Home-Based Primary Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Elizabeth Weiskittle ◽  
Michelle Mlinac ◽  
LICSW Nicole Downing
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Socially Isolated

Social distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to a rapid shift to virtual and telephone care. Social workers and mental health providers in VA home-based primary care (HBPC) teams face challenges providing psychosocial support to their homebound, medically complex, socially isolated patient population who are high risk for poor health outcomes related to COVID-19. We developed and disseminated an 8-week telephone or virtual group intervention for front-line HBPC social workers and mental health providers to use with socially isolated, medically complex older adults. The intervention draws on skills from evidence-based psychotherapies for older adults including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Problem-Solving Therapy. The manual was disseminated to VA HBPC clinicians and geriatrics providers across the United States in March 2020 for expeditious implementation. Eighteen HBPC teams and three VA Primary Care teams reported immediate delivery of a local virtual or telephone group using the manual. In this paper we describe the manual’s development and clinical recommendations for its application across geriatric care settings. Future evaluation will identify ways to meet longer-term social isolation and evolving mental health needs for this patient population as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals The Health and Well-Being of African-American Older Adults With a History of Incarceration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Rodlescia Sneed
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African-Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Longer prison stays and release programs for older prisoners may result in an increased number of community-dwelling older adults with a history of incarceration. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research on health-related outcomes for currently incarcerated older adults; however, there has been little inquiry into outcomes for formerly incarcerated African-American older adults following community re-entry. In this study, we used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study to describe employment, economic, and health-related outcomes in this population. Twelve percent of the 2238 African-Americans in our sample had been previously incarcerated. Those who had been previously incarcerated had higher rates of lung disease, arthritis, back problems, mobility problems, and mental health issues than their counterparts. They also had higher rates of hospitalization and lower use of dental health services. Further, while they did not experience lower employment rates than those with no criminal history, those who had been incarcerated had more physically demanding jobs and reported greater economic strain. Given the disproportionate incarceration rates among African-Americans, the aging of the prison population, and the increase in community re-entry for older prisoners, research that explores factors that impact the health and well-being of formerly incarcerated individuals has broad impact. Future work should focus on addressing the needs of this vulnerable population of African-American older adults.

scholarly journals Social needs and health‐related quality of life among African American cancer survivors: Results from the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors study

Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa A. Hastert ◽  
Jean A. McDougall ◽  
Shaila M. Strayhorn ◽  
Mrudula Nair ◽  
Jennifer L. Beebe‐Dimmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
African American ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Old Age

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Tesch-Roemer ◽  
Oliver Huxhold
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Social Perceptions ◽  
Social Expectations ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Aging Persons

Social isolation refers to the objective lack of social integration. Loneliness, in contrast, refers to the perceived lack of social integration. Loneliness has serious consequences for the well-being of aging persons. Individuals who feel lonely tend to have poorer health, less autonomy, and lower subjective well-being than individuals who do not feel lonely. Lonely individuals even tend to become more socially isolated over time. While prevalence rates of social isolation increase with advancing age, only a minority of older people suffer from severe loneliness, however. Hence, loneliness is not necessarily a consequence of growing old, but rather, depends on specific risk factors (e.g., social needs, social expectations, resources, and competencies). Interventions therefore should be focused on these risk factors (unfulfilled social needs, unmet social perceptions, and lack of resources and competencies).

Feeling lonely when not socially isolated

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 1340-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeeun Lee ◽  
Young-gun Ko
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Social Variables ◽  
Informant Agreement ◽  
Social Network Size ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Socially Isolated

Although it is widely acknowledged that people can feel lonely when not socially isolated, to our knowledge, no study has examined whether loneliness would be differently associated with daily social relations for people who are not socially isolated. The present study examined the role of social isolation (i.e., small social network size) in moderating the association between loneliness and characteristics of daily social interactions—interaction type and qualitative characteristics—using the 7-day social interaction diary data of 118 individuals. The moderating effect of social isolation on self-informant agreement in loneliness ratings was additionally examined, using three informant ratings of loneliness. Greater loneliness was more related to less frequency of strong tie interactions for people who are less socially isolated, while loneliness was more associated with greater self-focus during interactions for more socially isolated people. In addition, for those who are less socially isolated, the self-informant agreement in loneliness ratings was lower, suggesting that their loneliness might be underrecognized, even by those close to them. These results indicate that the relationships between loneliness and such social variables may operate differently depending upon the personal level of social isolation. In particular, our findings underscore the significant role of frequent interactions with close ties in alleviating the loneliness of people who are not socially isolated, suggesting that human social needs cannot be satisfied merely by a large number of social contacts.

scholarly journals The Studying Multiple Outcomes After Aural Rehabilitative Treatment Study: Study Design and Baseline Results

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 233372141770494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingsheng Li ◽  
Caitlin Blake ◽  
Yoon Sung ◽  
Barnett Shpritz ◽  
David Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Multiple Outcomes ◽  
Rehabilitative Treatment ◽  
Standardized Measures ◽  
Smart Study ◽  
Health Related

Hearing loss may affect critical domains of health and functioning in older adults. This article describes the rationale and design of the Studying Multiple Outcomes After Aural Rehabilitative Treatment (SMART) study, which was developed to determine to what extent current hearing rehabilitative therapies could mitigate the effects of hearing loss on health outcomes. One hundred and forty-five patients ≥50 years receiving hearing aids (HA) or cochlear implants (CI) were recruited from the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-HNS. A standardized outcome battery was administered to assess cognitive, social, mental, and physical functioning. Of the 145 participants aged 50 to 94.9 years who completed baseline evaluations, CI participants had significantly greater loneliness, social isolation, and poorer hearing and communicative function compared with HA participants. This study showed that standardized measures of health-related outcomes commonly used in gerontology appear sensitive to hearing impairment and are feasible to implement in clinical studies of hearing loss.

Neighborhood Deterioration and Social Isolation in Later Life

1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal Krause
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Neighborhood Characteristics ◽  
Financial Difficulties ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Socially Isolated

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.

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