Social Isolation and Loneliness Among San Francisco Bay Area Older Adults During the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Orders.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic may have unintended, detrimental effects on social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Our objectives were to investigate (1) experiences of social isolation and loneliness during shelter-in-place orders, and (2) unmet health needs related to changes in social interactions.

Design

Mixed-methods longitudinal phone-based survey administered every 2 weeks.

Setting

Two community sites and an academic geriatrics outpatient clinical practice.

Participants

A total of 151 community-dwelling older adults.

Measurements

We measured social isolation using a six-item modified Duke Social Support Index, social interaction subscale, that included assessments of video-based and Internet-base

SUBMITTER: Kotwal AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7536935 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature