the national organization has unveiled the canadian clinical guidelines on social isolation and loneliness in older adults , a vital undertaking believed to be the first of its kind. the project, developed in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team of experts, is intended to help healthcare and social service professionals provide support to some of the most vulnerable members of society. a valuable addition to existing resources for older adults and care partners , the guidelines are critical to understanding the health implications of social isolation and loneliness.
it couldn’t come at a better time: recent research indicates that 41 per cent of canadians aged 50 and older are at risk of social isolation, while as many as 58 per cent have experienced loneliness. the two mental health issues are associated with a range of health problems in this age group, including an increased risk of cancer mortality, stroke and dementia . living with social isolation and loneliness is so detrimental to one’s health, it has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day .
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even more concerning, says dr. suzanne dupuis-blanchard, director of the centre d’études du vieillissement at the université de moncton in new brunswick, is the fact that social isolation is much more common than the numbers show, pointing out that the part of the population affected by isolation is not the one that responds to surveys.
“social isolation is not trivial, it’s not just someone saying, ‘ i don’t want to leave the house,'” explains dupuis-blanchard, who is also a member of the working group for the guidelines. “this is a public health crisis.”
a key part of addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults is ensuring that healthcare and social workers understand the long list of factors involved . some of these risks, which include advanced age, low income and poor health status, have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. “it’s important to not just identify older adults who may be socially isolated or lonely but to anticipate any possible changes in their life circumstances that can put them at risk,” conn says. “major life transitions are really critical and that’s something that might, in some cases, be anticipated.”
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ultimately, the complex range of issues that contribute to social isolation and loneliness in older adults won’t be solved overnight. the road ahead may be rocky, but the guidelines offered by the ccsmh will provide healthcare and social service professionals with some much-needed direction along the way — guidance that is critical to improving social isolation by teaching them to recognize the warning signs and how to intervene, says dupuis-blanchard.