Technological interventions to reduce loneliness and social isolation among community-living older adults: A scoping review
Andrew Wister PhD*, Eireann O’Dea MA, Ian Fyffe MA, Theodore D. Cosco PhD
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AbstractBackground: Loneliness and social isolation are recognized as significant challenges affecting older adults living in the community. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of technological interventions to address these issues.
Objective: The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of technological interventions that have been developed to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation for community-dwelling older adults. The secondary objective is to compare via mapping the technological intervention article characteristics in terms of date of publication, country of publication, study design, sample characteristics, loneliness/social isolation measure, and efficacy/support for the intervention.
Method: Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology (Joanna Briggs Institute, 2011) and the PRISMA extension for systematic/scoping reviews, a scoping review of seven academic databases (Academic Search Premier, Ageline, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov) was conducted.
Results: This scoping review identified 26 technological approaches to reducing loneliness and social isolation that met our criteria. We found three groupings; (1) computer and tablet-based competence training; (2) health-oriented technical interventions; and 3) Video games and animatronic pets interventions. The majority of technological interventions (15 out of 26) were effective in demonstrating support for reductions in loneliness and/or social isolation among older adults. Issues of accessibility, technology literacy, and complexity of the intervention were found to act as barriers to uptake.
Conclusion: A variety of technologies have been employed to reduce social and loneliness amongst older adults, with a growing body of evidence in support of technology-driven interventions.Keywords: scoping review, technology, loneliness, social isolation, older adults
Andrew Wister PhD*, Eireann O’Dea MA, Ian Fyffe MA, Theodore D. Cosco PhD (2021). Technological interventions to reduce loneliness and social isolation among community-living older adults: A scoping review. Gerontechnology, 20(2), 1-16
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2021.20.2.30-471.11