Definition, Determinants, and Outcomes of Social Connectedness for Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (07) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. O'Rourke ◽  
Souraya Sidani
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Connectedness

scholarly journals Technologies and the Effects On Social Engagement In Long-Term Care Facilities During COVID-19: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 886-886
Author(s):  
Timothy Wood ◽  
Shannon Freeman ◽  
Alanna Koopmans
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sense of loneliness and social isolation felt by older adults in long-term care facilities has been exacerbated. Although there has been an increase in the number of digital solutions to mitigate social isolation during COVID-19, facilities in northern British Columbia do not have sufficient information regarding the technologies to support social connectedness. To support evidence-based policy decisions, a scoping review was conducted to identify existing virtual technology solutions, apps, and platforms that promote social connectedness among older adults residing in long-term care. A combination of keywords and subject headings were used to identify relevant literature within PubMed, CINAHL EBSCO, PsychINFO EBSCO, Embase OVIDSP, and Web of Science ISI databases. DistillerSR was used to screen and summarize the article selection process. Twenty-three articles were identified for full-text analysis. A variety of technologies are described which can be used to mitigate the impacts of social isolation felt by long-term care residents. However, many of these digital solutions require stable highspeed internet. This remains a challenge for facilities in northern areas as many have limited access to reliable internet. Metrics used to evaluate social engagement in the context of long-term care are also outlined. This research provides the preliminary groundwork necessary to better inform policy decisions about which technologies are available and, of these, which are effective at enhancing social connectedness for older adults in long-term care.

scholarly journals EXPLORING OLDER ADULTS’ EXPERIENCES IN CARE TRANSITIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S965-S965
Author(s):  
Flora Vieira Zamora ◽  
Michelle Silver ◽  
Whitney Berta ◽  
Michelle Nelson ◽  
Angela Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Care Integration ◽  
Care Systems

Abstract Older adults are Canada’s largest growing demographic. Later adulthood is frequently accompanied by increased comorbidities, resulting in more people living with chronic conditions for longer portions of their lives and requiring care across multiple settings. These individuals are also the most susceptible to challenges within health care systems, especially during vulnerable times such as care transitions, which can be challenging due to issues of care integration and coordination. A scoping review was conducted to explore the experiences of older adults transitioning through various levels of care. The main themes found included personal realizations, social connectedness, importance of navigating the system and recommendations for the future. During care transitions, older adults must carefully consider their personal circumstances and limitations and often accept a new baseline, thus, adapting their lives and activities to match possible limitations. Older adults indicate the need for strong social networks, accessible and available services, as well as effective communication, information, education and engagement during care transitions. Issues with care transitions can be exacerbated in smaller communities, where resources and services may be limited. As such, this scoping review is the foundation for an ongoing systematic review which aims to summarize what is known about care transitions for older adults living in small and rural communities. By better understanding the different interacting factors that might influence care transitions for older adults living in small communities, important and sustainable changes can be identified and implemented to ensure that care transitions for older adults are safe, positive and empowering.

scholarly journals Interventions to Address Social Connectedness and Loneliness for Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. O’Rourke ◽  
Laura Collins ◽  
Souraya Sidani
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Connectedness

Background Older adults are at risk for loneliness, and interventions to promote social connectedness are needed to directly address this problem. The nature of interventions aimed to affect the distinct, subjective concepts of loneliness/social connectedness has not been clearly described. The purpose of this review was to map the literature on interventions and strategies to affect loneliness/social connectedness for older adults.

scholarly journals Interventions to Address Social Connectedness and Loneliness for Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. O’Rourke ◽  
Laura Collins ◽  
Souraya Sidani
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Connectedness

Background Older adults are at risk for loneliness, and interventions to promote social connectedness are needed to directly address this problem. The nature of interventions aimed to affect the distinct, subjective concepts of loneliness/social connectedness has not been clearly described. The purpose of this review was to map the literature on interventions and strategies to affect loneliness/social connectedness for older adults.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Mental Health Through Leisure Activities During COVID-19: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233372142110367
Author(s):  
Solymar Rivera-Torres ◽  
Elias Mpofu ◽  
Marian Jean Keller ◽  
Stan Ingman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
Leisure And Recreation

Older adults are at high risk for mental health distress due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This scoping review aimed to map emerging evidence on the types of leisure and recreation activities (LRA) adults, 60 years and older, are engaged in for their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified 10 studies on LRA for mental health by older adults with COVID-19 mitigation from a search of the following databases: Medline/PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Evidence Synthesis, and Epistemonicos. A narrative synthesis of the data revealed age cohorts of young-old (60–69 years) and middle-old (70–79 years) engaging mainly in online LRA for mental health compared to the older-old adults (80 years and older). The middle-old (70–79 years) and older-old adults (80–89 years) engaged in more physical LRA for mental health compared to the younger-old adults. Across age cohorts, the older adults engaged in social connectedness LRA for mental health wellbeing. COVID-19–safe LRA mental health support interventions for older adults should be tailored to their age cohort predispositions for optimal benefit.

Investigation of the Associations Between Social Connectedness and Internet Usage for Older Adults

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edd D. Easton-Hogg ◽  
Nicholas K. Lim ◽  
Tomas Bergandi ◽  
Kevin Borders
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Internet Usage

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Tai Chi for Health Promotion of Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Meta-Analyses

2021 ◽  
pp. 155982762110012
Author(s):  
Fei-Chi Yang ◽  
Aishwarya B. Desai ◽  
Pelareh Esfahani ◽  
Tatiana V. Sokolovskaya ◽  
Doreen J. Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
General Health ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background. Tai Chi is a form of exercise that is accessible to people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, making it a potentially valuable activity for health promotion of older adults. Purpose. The objective of this scoping review was to summarize the current knowledge about the effectiveness of Tai Chi for older adults across a range of general health outcomes from published, peer reviewed, unique meta-analyses. Methods. Meta-analyses were retrieved from Medline, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsychINFO, Web of Science, PubMed Health, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to late August 2019. Multistage deduplication and screening processes identified eligible full-length meta-analyses. Two people independently appraised 27 meta-analyses based on the GRADE system and organized results into 3 appendices subsequently collated into heterogeneous, statistically significant, and statistically insignificant tables. Results. “High” and “moderate” quality evidence extracted from these meta-analyses demonstrated that practicing Tai Chi can significantly improve balance, cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition, mobility, proprioception, sleep, and strength; reduce the incidence of falls and nonfatal stroke; and decrease stroke risk factors. Conclusions. Health care providers can now recommend Tai Chi with high level of certainty for health promotion of older adults across a range of general health outcomes for improvement of overall well-being.

Parental Bereavement in Older Age: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732199581
Author(s):  
Patricia Moyle Wright
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Parental Bereavement ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Physical Decline ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Cultural Mores ◽  
Meta Analyses

A scoping review of parental bereavement in older age was conducted to identify the unique needs of older adults after the loss of an adult child. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed in accordance with the stated objectives of this review, which was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). In total, 26 research studies were included. The data were then analyzed using a systematic approach for organizing and synthesizing key data. The results indicated that some consequences and mediators of parental bereavement are similar regardless of age. But, older adults experience greater loneliness, isolation, and stigma than their younger counterparts. Older parents are also at greater risk for physical decline, mortality, and institutionalization following the death of an adult child. Religious and cultural mores also have influence on the bereavement process.

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