Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Current Understanding and Future Directions

Purpose of Review The negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness (SI/L) on older adults underscores the importance of evaluation and intervention to target SI/L in this vulnerable population. This review distinguishes social isolation from loneliness, highlights the epidemiology, risk factors and poor health outcomes associated with SI/L and identifies protective factors, interventions and future directions to address SI/L in the geriatric population. Recent Findings Mediators and moderators of SI/L in older adults are multi-faceted and encompass various biopsychosocial factors associated with aging. These include psychiatric and medical comorbidities, transitions in care needs and living environments, technology access and literacy, ageism, and protective factors, such as wisdom, resilience and the biological drive for social connection. The COVID-19 pandemic renewed interest in understanding the health impacts of SI/L in older adults as well as the effectiveness of available interventions. Summary Identifying older adults most at risk for SI/L is imperative. Enhanced public awareness, the greater use of standardized assessments in clinical settings, and tailored interventions targeting the individual needs of patients are all paramount to identifying and addressing SI/L. Future research should include larger, well-defined sample populations and target interventions that utilize technology while engaging protective factors such as wisdom and resilience.