Loneliness and Social Isolation in Home Care
Published: 18 July 2024
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Published: 18 July 2024
Home care recipients, many of whom are older adults or living with disabilities, may be at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation.
Loneliness and social isolation are associated with poor physical and mental health, with research even suggesting they may increase the risk of premature death as much as obesity, smoking and physical inactivity (CDC 2021).
Therefore, ensuring that your clients feel adequately supported and connected is essential to optimising their health, wellbeing and overall quality of life.
(AIHW 2024; Beyond Blue 2018)
Loneliness and social isolation can coexist; however, this is not always the case. These two terms, while similar, are distinct. It is possible for a socially isolated person to feel content or a socially connected person to feel lonely (AIHW 2024).
While loneliness may arise as an emotional response to being socially isolated, the quality of relationships seems to be more important overall than the number of social connections a person has (ACSA 2015).
It is important to note that loneliness varies in severity and is not always a significant issue. In some cases, the feelings may pass on their own. However, if an individual is experiencing constant loneliness that is causing self-reinforcing negative thoughts, this might be a serious problem (ACSA 2015).
Older people may experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation due to a variety of factors, including:
(Beyond Blue 2018; CDC 2021; AIHW 2017; ASCA 2015)
Studies have found that people living with disabilities have fewer friends and less social support and are overall more socially isolated than the general population (Emerson et al. 2021).
A 2017 report by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness in the UK found that about 23% of people living with disabilities feel lonely on a typical day, while 53% have experienced feelings of loneliness. This rises to 77% among young people living with disabilities.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, two-thirds of people living with disabilities now say they often or always feel lonely (Kramer 2021).
Causes of loneliness and social isolation in people living with disabilities may include:
(AIHW 2024; The Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness 2017)
Home care can present unique challenges that may contribute to loneliness and social isolation. These may include:
(Neves et al. 2019)
Loneliness and social isolation may have a variety of adverse effects, including:
(CDC 2021; Beyond Blue 2018; Neves et al. 2019; AIHW 2024)
Your visit to a client’s home might be the only social contact they have on that particular day. Therefore, building rapport and establishing a more meaningful relationship with your client might go a long way in helping them feel less isolated, or even just brightening up their day.
However, while your relationship with the client may be friendly, it must remain professional. Always be mindful of your professional boundaries and obligations.
Some ideas for appropriately building rapport include:
(Todd 2013; Lowndes 2020)
Keep in mind that giving your client even just a few minutes of undivided attention goes a long way in building rapport and showing warmth (Lowndes 2020).
In some cases, you might be the only person who is regularly visiting and interacting with the client. Therefore, it’s crucial that you are able to recognise signs of loneliness and depression, document any concerns and escalate care to appropriate healthcare professionals.
A client who is feeling lonely might display some of the following signs:
(Home Instead 2023; Nurse Next Door 2022; Adams 2020)
Loneliness and social isolation have the potential to significantly adversely affect a person’s physical and mental health. To ensure your clients feel well-connected, it is important to understand why loneliness may arise and know how to help them overcome these feelings.
Keep in mind that interventions should be tailored to suit each client, as loneliness is a subjective and individual experience that can not be addressed using a one-size-fits-all approach (Fakoya et al. 2020).
Question 1 of 3
Which one of the following could be a sign of loneliness in a client?