Addressing loneliness and social isolation through the involvement of primary and secondary informal caregivers in nursing homes: a scoping review

Abstract

Objectives To clarify the mechanisms of interventions addressing loneliness and social isolation in older adults living in nursing homes through the involvement of primary and secondary informal caregivers. Methods This scoping review was performed by two independent reviewers, covering the period between 2011 and 2022 and the databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus. It included terms related to (A) informal caregivers, (B) nursing homes, (C) psychosocial interventions, (D) involvement and (E) social isolation or loneliness. Results Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Although there were various definitions and assessment tools related to social isolation and loneliness, the studies referred to three dimensions of these concepts in nursing home residents: the quantity of social interactions, the perception of these encounters and biographical changes in social relationships. Most studies did not explicate the mechanisms of these interventions. The review uncovered the following aspects of intervention mechanisms: increasing opportunities for social contact, creating meaningful encounters, maintaining existing relationships with primary informal caregivers and establishing new ones with secondary informal caregivers. Conclusion Studies reporting on interventions addressing loneliness and social isolation in nursing home residents need to clarify and detail their intervention mechanisms in order to foster more targeted interventions. In addition, there is a need for further research on large-scale programs or care philosophies in this field and the development of intervention designs, which allow for tailored intervention formats in order to respond to the individual perception of social relationships.