Loneliness in Old Age: Interventions to Curb Loneliness in Long-Term Care Facilities

ABSTRACT

Presently there is little analytical research examining practical interventions to address loneliness in long-term aged care. Thus, a review of the literature was conducted to identify and examine the usefulness of current interventions. A broad range of activities were found to benefit lonely residents. Animal-assisted therapy was the most widely implemented strategy and was both appropriate and effective for cognitively impaired and non-impaired residents. Collaborative group approaches to improve cognitive aging were highly beneficial to residents as was indoor gardening, group use of game consoles and increased social contact with family or friends mediated via videoconferencing. Continued innovation and adaptation of practices to provide stimulation and increase social connectedness are needed, in conjunction with rigorous research methodologies, to determine effectiveness and appropriateness of those interventions to reduce loneliness for residents in long-term care facilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Aged
• loneliness
• long-term care
• nursing homes
• social isolation

Conflicts of interest

Authors are employed by Wesley Mission Brisbane, a not-for-profit organization involved in both community and aged-care.