Open AccessConnection Through Calls: The Impact of a Seniors Center Without Walls on Older Adults’ Social Isolation and Loneliness
Author(s) -
Heather Roland,
Yana Ilin Shpilkerman,
Jessica Schaub,
Ann-Carol Comeau
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
gerontology and geriatric medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2333-7214
DOI - 10.1177/23337214211063102
Subject(s) - loneliness , psychosocial , attendance , social isolation , social connectedness , feeling , gerontology , quality of life (healthcare) , ucla loneliness scale , anxiety , psychology , social support , social engagement , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , medicine , nursing , social psychology , psychiatry , sociology , social science , economics , economic growth
The Edmonton Seniors Centre Without Walls program provides free health, psychosocial, and educational telephone programming for older adults who experience multiple barriers to traditional in-person programming. The aim of this program evaluation was to assess outcomes of participation using validated scales of loneliness and psychosocial and health quality of life. Telephone interviews were conducted pre ( n = 160) and post ( n = 99) with participants. Given the variation in average attendance, results were assessed by level of participation: Low, Moderate, and High Users. There was statistically significant improvement in all participants’ attitudes towards their self-realization and towards energy levels, and EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression scale after participation, along with a significant reduction in feelings of social isolation. The highest rates of improvement were seen within High Users. These findings suggest that telephone-based programs could be a useful intervention to improve the wellbeing and socially connectedness of older adults.