2022/01/05 Just a phone call can reduce loneliness among socially isolated older adults

Loneliness is associated with depression and reduced life expectancy. A simple and effective method to alleviate loneliness among socially isolated older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic was just described in a new study. In this study, participants in the intervention group received a phone call from the research team weekly for eight weeks. They were also encouraged to maintain social contacts and stick with their daily routine. Participants in the control group received usual care. The researchers found a significant reduction in loneliness at the 3-month follow-up among older adults in the intervention group compared to the control group. This pilot study proved the feasibility and effectiveness of a telephone-based intervention to improve loneliness among socially isolated older adults.     
 
 
Article Website:
 
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003779
 
Journal Reference:
 
Simon Gilbody, Elizabeth Littlewood, Dean McMillan, Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, Della Bailey, Samantha Gascoyne, Claire Sloan, Lauren Burke, Peter Coventry, Suzanne Crosland, Caroline Fairhurst, Andrew Henry, Catherine Hewitt, Kalpita Joshi, Eloise Ryde, Leanne Shearsmith, Gemma Traviss-Turner, Rebecca Woodhouse, Andrew Clegg, Tom Gentry, Andrew J. Hill, Karina Lovell, Sarah Dexter Smith, Judith Webster, David Ekers. Behavioural activation to prevent depression and loneliness among socially isolated older people with long-term conditions: The BASIL COVID-19 pilot randomised controlled trial. PLOS Medicine, 2021; 18 (10): e1003779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003779