Loneliness among older adults is a growing public health concern, linked to cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, mental illness, high healthcare usage and premature death. A systematic literature review published in Frontiers in Public Health by Uday "AJ" Patil and Kathryn L. Braun from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health examined interventions to alleviate this issue.
Effective interventions require more than socialization—they must foster purpose and meaning.
—Uday "AJ" Patil
Defined as a feeling of disconnection from people and communities, loneliness was addressed across 19 systematic literature reviews, encompassing 101 unique intervention studies from 21 countries. Interventions ranged from social activities and psychological therapies to animal-assisted and skill-building programs.
The study found nearly two-thirds (63%) of the interventions effectively reduced loneliness. Programs that combined multiple strategies-such as enhancing social skills, building social support, and increasing social interactions-were particularly successful. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and reminiscence therapy also showed positive results, as did all animal-assisted interventions, including therapy with real, robotic, and virtual pets.
"Our work highlights how loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was especially harmful, as many interventions were inaccessible. Makeshift efforts lacked the depth needed for lasting impact," said Patil. "Effective interventions require more than socialization-they must foster purpose and meaning, particularly for kūpuna, through intentional, multi-faceted approaches."
As loneliness continues to pose serious health risks for older adults globally, this study emphasizes the importance of programs that reduce isolation while fostering meaningful connections and community engagement.
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