Social isolation, loneliness, and mental health among older adults during COVID-19: a scoping review

Jul 28, 2023Journal of gerontological social work

Social isolation, loneliness, and mental health in older adults during COVID-19

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Abstract

Older adults have faced significant mental health challenges during COVID-19, with anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia being major concerns.

Social isolation and loneliness among older adults have notably increased during the pandemic.
Mental health issues linked to COVID-19 include heightened levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia.
Spousal support and social networks are important for mitigating mental health risks in older adults.
Adaptive organizational changes and responsive public sector initiatives may help reduce barriers for this population.
Effective pandemic-related intervention strategies and policies could enhance resilience among older adults.

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COVID-19 continues to have detrimental effects worldwide, especially on vulnerable populations. The burden of mental health concerns and psychological well-being resulting from social isolation and loneliness induced by COVID-19 are increasingly recognized in old age. The aim is to determine the extent of social isolation and loneliness among older adults, the methodologies used, the effect on mental health during COVID-19, and review intervention strategies and lifestyle changes to improve the current situation through the recommendations of the studies included. The articles published on PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases from December 2019 to December 2021 with the following keywords ("Older Adults" "Social Isolation," "Loneliness," "Mental Health," "COVID-19") in English were included. Older adults have faced a serious burden of social isolation and adverse mental health effects during COVID-19. Anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia are the major mental health concerns among older adults worldwide. It is suggested that spousal support and social networks, adaptive organizational change, and a responsive public sector are critical in reducing the obstacles to older adults. COVID-19 resilience among the aging population can be remarkable if adequately cared for with senior-friendly pandemic-related intervention strategies, policies and legislation.

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Social isolation, loneliness, and mental health among older adults during COVID-19: a scoping review

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