scholarly journals Long-term social distancing during COVID-19: A social isolation crisis among seniors?

2020 ◽  
Vol 192 (21) ◽  
pp. E588-E588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Oi-Yee Li ◽  
David Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Distancing

scholarly journals Social Distancing vs Social Interaction for Older Adults at Long-Term Care Facilities in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review and Synthesis of Action Plans

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110442
Author(s):  
Farhana Ferdous
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Care Facilities

The present study aimed to systematically analyze the impact of COVID-19-related social distancing requirements on older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and to synthesize the literature into thematic action plans to minimize the adverse effects of social isolation. The search included articles published between December 2019 and August 2020 across four databases. The inclusion criteria were used to screen for studies that reported on social isolation and loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults living in LTCFs. This rapid review identified 29 relevant studies and synthesized them into four thematic action plans: technological advancement, remote communication, therapeutic care/stress management, and preventive measures. These thematic action plans and cost-effective strategies can be immediately adopted and used as a resource for all LTCF administrators, healthcare design professionals, and researchers in battling current COVID-19-related issues, and improving social interaction in older adults living in care facilities.

COVID-19: implications of self-isolation and social distancing for the emotional and behavioural health of cats

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
Claire Hargrave
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Welfare Cost ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Behavioural Health ◽  
The Media ◽  
Social Exposure

As the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic proves slow to respond to control measures, the ongoing advice for humans to maintain social isolation and social distancing continues. The media has paid considerable attention to the potential cost of such restrictions in terms of human mental and behavioural health but less attention has been paid to the potential welfare cost of ‘lock-down’ and ‘self-isolation’ to the pet population. This article considers the immediate consequences of reduced access to environmental and social stimulation outside the home and increased social exposure within the home to cats, as well as considering some of the potential long-term effects of such measures.

scholarly journals Measuring the Effects of Social Isolation and Dissatisfaction on Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Sleep and Physical Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
Ivan Vargas ◽  
Erin Kaye Howie ◽  
Alexandria Muench ◽  
Michael L. Perlis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Moderating Role

Social distancing was universally implemented to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Long-term social distancing can lead to increased feelings of social isolation or dissatisfaction with one’s daily interpersonal interactions, which can subsequently result in reduced psychological health (e.g., greater depression). The present study quantified this association, and the extent to which it was moderated by measures of sleep and physical activity, by surveying 3658 adults (mean age = 46.0 years) from across the United States. Participants answered questions related to their social experiences, sleep, physical activity, and depressive symptoms during the early stages of the pandemic (March–June 2020). Results showed that social isolation and social dissatisfaction were associated with greater depressive symptoms. As predicted, self-reported sleep quality and physical activity moderated these associations, such that lower sleep quality and physical activity exacerbated their effect on depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Impacts of the Pandemic on Older Adults’ Social Isolation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 950-950
Author(s):  
Stephanie MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Early Research ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Virus Exposure ◽  
Key Terms

Abstract The risk of COVID-19 exposure and likelihood of severe illness have been critical concerns among older adults during the pandemic. Meanwhile, social distancing has worsened social isolation, with severe impacts on connectedness among seniors. Effects of the pandemic may lead to an extended crisis, with impacts on health outcomes. Our primary purpose was to summarize emerging research describing impacts of the pandemic on social isolation and related health outcomes among older adults. A streamlined search was conducted to fit the scope of this review, with key terms determined to identify relevant publications. Common research databases and mainstream resources were utilized. We focused on research published or released since the start of 2020, primarily rapidly reviewed studies, to align with the timing of the pandemic. Early research suggests that the pandemic has worsened social isolation among older adults. Social isolation is now more urgent, as many seniors lost their usual connections due to social distancing. While these measures help to prevent virus exposure, this approach must be balanced with maintaining social connectedness. Thus, a “COVID-19 paradox” has emerged: safety protocols protect older adults but concurrently place them at risk of social isolation. Adapted approaches are urgently needed to safely address the consequences of a potential long-term social recession.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Era Social Isolation among Older Adults

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Stephanie MacLeod ◽  
Rifky Tkatch ◽  
Sandra Kraemer ◽  
Annette Fellows ◽  
Michael McGinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Virus Exposure

Risk of COVID-19 exposure and more severe illness are serious concerns for older adults. Social distancing has worsened existing social isolation, with severe impacts on connectedness among seniors. The pandemic is threatening to cause an extended health crisis, with impacts including serious health consequences. Our primary purpose is to summarize emerging research describing the impacts of the pandemic on social isolation among older adults. A streamlined search was conducted to fit the scope of this literature review. Common research databases and mainstream resources and websites were utilized to identify research published or released in 2020 to align with the pandemic. Early research indicates that the pandemic has worsened social isolation among older adults. Social isolation has become urgent, as seniors have lost their usual connections due to social distancing. While safety measures are critical to prevent virus exposure, this approach must be balanced with maintaining social connectedness. The pandemic highlights the importance of social connections, with significant impacts on both community-living older adults and those in nursing facilities. Safety protocols have created a paradox of reduced risk along with greater harm. Consequently, adapted approaches are urgently needed to address the consequences of a long-term social recession.

scholarly journals The Long-Term Public Health Impact of Social Distancing on Brain Health: Topical Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7307
Author(s):  
Anagha Kumar ◽  
Joel Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Topical Review ◽  
History Of ◽  
Aging Health ◽  
Critical Public Health

Social distancing has been a critical public health measure for the COVID-19 pandemic, yet a long history of research strongly suggests that loneliness and social isolation play a major role in several cognitive health issues. What is the true severity and extent of risks involved and what are potential approaches to balance these competing risks? This review aimed to summarize the neurological context of social isolation and loneliness in population health and the long-term effects of social distancing as it relates to neurocognitive aging, health, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The full scope of the underlying causal mechanisms of social isolation and loneliness in humans remains unclear partly because its study is not amenable to randomized controlled trials; however, there are many detailed experimental and observational studies that may provide a hypothesis-generating theoretical framework to better understand the pathophysiology and underlying neurobiology. To address these challenges and inform future studies, we conducted a topical review of extant literature investigating associations of social isolation and loneliness with relevant biological, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes, and provide recommendations on how to approach the need to fill key knowledge gaps in this important area of research.

scholarly journals Digital Technologies To Enhance Social Connectedness in Long-Term Care Facilities During COVID-19: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 942-943
Author(s):  
Shannon Freeman ◽  
Aderonke Abgoji ◽  
Alanna Koopmans ◽  
Christopher Ross
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract A consequence of the strict visitor restrictions implemented by many Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs), during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the exacerbation of loneliness and social isolation felt by older adult residents. While there had been a shift by some persons to utilize digital solutions to mitigate the effects of the imposed social isolation, many facilities did not have sufficient information regarding available solutions to implement institutional strategies to support social connectedness through digital solutions. To support our partners in evidence-based policy-making we conducted a scoping review to identify existing virtual technology solutions, apps, and platforms feasible to promote social connectedness among persons residing in a long-term care facility context during times of lockdown such as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial identification of relevant literature involved a combination of keywords and subject headings searches within 5 databases (PubMed, CINAHL EBSCO, PsychINFO EBSCO, Embase OVIDSP, and Web of Science ISI). DistillerSR was used to screen, chart and summarize the data. There is growth in the availability of technologies focused on promoting health and well-being in later life for persons in long-term care facilities however a gap remains in widespread uptake. We will describe the breadth of technologies identified in this review and discuss how they vary in utility in smaller scale facilities common in rural areas. Of the technologies that can be used to mitigate the impacts of social isolation felt by long-term care residents, many “solutions” depend on stable highspeed internet, which remains a challenge in rural and northern areas.

scholarly journals Co-Housing Response to Social Isolation of COVID-19 Outbreak, with a Focus on Gender Implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7203
Author(s):  
Emanuele Giorgi ◽  
Lucía Martín Martín López ◽  
Rubén Garnica-Monroy ◽  
Aleksandra Krstikj ◽  
Carlos Cobreros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Social Habits

COVID-19 forced billions of people to restructure their daily lives and social habits. Several research projects have focused on social impacts, approaching the phenomenon on the basis of different issues and scales. This work studies the changes in social relations within the well-defined urban-territorial elements of co-housing communities. The peculiarity of this research lies in the essence of these communities, which base their existence on the spirit of sharing spaces and activities. As social distancing represented the only effective way to control the outbreak, the research studied how the rules of social distancing impacted these communities. For this reason, a questionnaire was sent to 60 communities asking them to highlight the changes that the emergency imposed on the members in their daily life and in the organization of common activities and spaces. A total of 147 responses were received and some relevant design considerations emerged: (1) the importance of feeling part of a “safe” community, with members who were known and deemed reliable, when facing a health emergency; and (2) the importance of open spaces to carry out shared activities. Overall, living in co-housing communities was evaluated as an “extremely positive circumstance” despite the fact that the emergency worsened socialization.

scholarly journals The challenges of containing SARS-CoV-2 via test-trace-and-isolate

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Contreras ◽  
Jonas Dehning ◽  
Matthias Loidolt ◽  
Johannes Zierenberg ◽  
F. Paul Spitzner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Model ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Tipping Points ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Promising Tool

AbstractWithout a cure, vaccine, or proven long-term immunity against SARS-CoV-2, test-trace-and-isolate (TTI) strategies present a promising tool to contain its spread. For any TTI strategy, however, mitigation is challenged by pre- and asymptomatic transmission, TTI-avoiders, and undetected spreaders, which strongly contribute to ”hidden" infection chains. Here, we study a semi-analytical model and identify two tipping points between controlled and uncontrolled spread: (1) the behavior-driven reproduction number $${R}_{t}^{H}$$ R t H of the hidden chains becomes too large to be compensated by the TTI capabilities, and (2) the number of new infections exceeds the tracing capacity. Both trigger a self-accelerating spread. We investigate how these tipping points depend on challenges like limited cooperation, missing contacts, and imperfect isolation. Our results suggest that TTI alone is insufficient to contain an otherwise unhindered spread of SARS-CoV-2, implying that complementary measures like social distancing and improved hygiene remain necessary.

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