What strategies can be implemented to prevent, reduce, improve, and mitigate social isolation?

From the Guidelines

To prevent, reduce, improve, and mitigate social isolation, I recommend a multi-faceted approach combining regular social interaction, community engagement, and technology use, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study 1. This approach should start by establishing a consistent routine of social connections—aim for daily contact with others through in-person visits, phone calls, or video chats.

Key Strategies

• Join community groups, volunteer organizations, or classes based on your interests to create meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals.
• Technology can bridge physical distances through platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, or social media, though these should supplement rather than replace in-person interaction.
• Physical activity groups such as walking clubs or exercise classes provide both social connection and health benefits.
• For those experiencing severe isolation, professional help from therapists or counselors may be beneficial, as they can provide strategies tailored to individual circumstances.
• Creating a supportive home environment with pets can also reduce feelings of loneliness. As noted in 1, practitioners should assess an individual’s perceived loneliness and social isolation and refer individuals to local social assistance programmes when necessary.

Implementation

• Routinely screen for loneliness using tools like the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, and include open-ended questions to allow individuals to express their feelings freely 1.
• Familiarize yourself with the social interventions and support services available within your region or community, and inform individuals with dementia and frailty and their families about these options. Social isolation significantly impacts physical and mental health, increasing risks of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline, as highlighted in 1 and 1. Regular meaningful social contact helps maintain cognitive function, emotional well-being, and provides practical support during difficult times. By prioritizing social interaction, community engagement, and technology use, individuals can reduce their risk of social isolation and improve their overall quality of life, as supported by the evidence from 1.

From the Research

Strategies to Prevent, Reduce, Improve, and Mitigate Social Isolation

Several strategies can be implemented to address social isolation, including:

• Behavioural activation (BA) to mitigate the psychological impacts of social isolation, as seen in the BASIL COVID-19 pilot randomised controlled trial 2
• Group-based physical activity (GBPA) to improve social connectedness and reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults 3
• Practical interventions by nurses, such as contacting peer counselors, referring patients to support groups, and helping patients use Internet-based supports 4
• Individual- and group-level network-building interventions to address social isolation and loneliness, including creating opportunities to build networks, improving social skills, and promoting engagement with influential actors 5
• Digital interventions, such as videoconferencing and telephone calls, to enhance social interactions and support, particularly for older adults 6

Key Elements of Interventions

Key elements of interventions to address social isolation and loneliness include:

• Creating opportunities to build networks and improve social skills
• Assessing network diagnostics and promoting engagement with influential actors
• Goal-setting and feedback processes
• Digital interventions, such as socially assistive robots and virtual pets, to enhance social support
• Interventions to improve social connectedness, such as GBPA

Target Populations and Settings

Target populations and settings for interventions to address social isolation and loneliness include:

• Older adults, particularly those with chronic illnesses or limited mobility
• Community settings, such as primary care and social services
• Online platforms, to enable remotely delivered interventions and reach a wider audience
• Low-income countries, where there is a lack of evidence on effective interventions to address social isolation and loneliness 6

Gaps in Evidence and Research

Gaps in evidence and research on interventions to address social isolation and loneliness include:

• Limited evidence on community-level outcomes and process indicators
• Lack of studies on affordability and digital divide, despite discussions on the value of accessibility and barriers caused by digital divide 6
• Limited representation of at-risk populations, such as the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and older adults aged 80 and older
• Need for more high-quality research, particularly in low-income countries and on digital interventions 6