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Alleviating social isolation and loneliness among older people
- Authors:
- CATTAN Mima, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 5(3), August 2003, pp.20-30.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Reports on an exploratory study to investigate inter-relationship between older people's and practitioners' perceptions of social isolation and loneliness, and their suggestions for effective interventions. Part of a larger study, this article reports on the case study interviews with 23 project staff from voluntary projects and 22 focus group interviews with a total of 145 older people. In addition, 25 additional interviews were carried out with older people who had recently joined an activity and whom project staff considered to be socially isolated and lonely. Interviews demonstrated a disparity between definitions of loneliness and social isolation, and perceptions of acceptable interventions. Findings suggest that older people employ a range of coping strategies that are not taken into account when services are planned. Activities often evolve to meet the needs of current participants, rather than of the intended target group, excluding those who are truly isolated and lonely. Concludes that there is inequity between the 'active lonely' and those most in need in accessing and using services intended for isolated and lonely older people, because of the lack of needs and evidence-based practice.