A recent analysis conducted by a Boston-based research team found that long-term care residents in facilities located in areas with high levels of social isolation have higher mortality rates than residents in facilities in places that have more social contact. Findings showed residents entering facilities in neighborhoods with the highest levels of social isolation among older adults had a 17% higher risk of mortality compared with those in neighborhoods with the lowest levels.
Social isolation among seniors has been an ongoing topic among the long-term care industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s connection with depression, anxiety and cognitive decline among nursing home residents. Isolation impact is not well known or studied, though it is addressed elsewhere in this blog (here and here, the latter being a collection of articles tagged with the topic "isolation" meaning that the subject was mentioned).
Researchers said the findings suggest the need for operators to place special attention and strategies to keep long-term care residents connected to their friends and family for optimal health:
“Such measures could eventually contribute to improved health trajectories in the US population that is increasingly aging and at growing risk of entering LTC facilities.”
For those interested and/or committed to aging in place, the findings provide additional justification for avoiding institutionalization, to be sure sure, but they also underscore the importance of planning and implementing a rigorous social plan, including and incorporating family, friends, and fraternal organizations and associations. For secular and non-secular organizations serving the needs of seniors, the findings of the study underscore the importance of outreach and involvement, for example, by ensuring transportation for seniors otherwise unable to travel.
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