Caregiving, volunteering, and loneliness in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review

Akhter-Khan, Samia C.; Hofmann, Valerie; Warncke, Martha; Tamimi, Nancy; Mayston, Rosie; Prina, Matthew

doi:10.1080/13607863.2022.2144130

Cited by 18 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…[21][22][23][24] Other promising interventions include the development of intergenerational partnerships, programs to facilitate volunteering, and nonhuman companions. [25][26][27][28] To date, there has been little research on social isolation or loneliness as predictors of hip fracture outcomes. Among community dwelling patients 65 years or older, having no social contact with friends during the 2 weeks before fracture was associated with a •5 greater risk of death at 2 years compared with those who had daily contact with friends.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Social Isolation on 1-Year Outcomes After Surgical Repair of Low Energy Hip Fracture

Mandl,

Rajan,

Lipschultz

et al. 2024

Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma

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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if social isolation or loneliness is associated with outcomes 1 year after low energy hip fracture. METHODS: Design: Prospective inception cohort study. Setting: Academic Level I Trauma Center. Patient Selection Criteria: Participants were ≥ 65 years of age and enrolled 2-4 days after surgery for a first low energy hip fracture. Exclusion criteria were bilateral or periprosthetic hip fracture, previous hip fracture, non-English speaking, international address, active cancer, stage 4 cancer in the past 5 years, radiation to the hip region and cognitive impairment. Participants were followed longitudinally for one year. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: The PROMIS-29 was elicited 2-4 days post-operatively and 1 year later. Patient reported risk factors included the Lubben Social Networks Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale, which were compared to the Lower Extremity Activity Scale and PROMIS-29 domains. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled. Participants had a median age of 81.7 years, were 70.9 % female and were 85.9% white. 31.6% of patients were socially isolated at time of fracture. At 1 year, 222 of the 291 subjects who were confirmed alive at one year provided data. Multivariable linear models were performed separately for each outcome, including Lower Extremity Activity Scale and PROMIS-29 domains. Controlling for age, sex, education, and body mass index, those who were socially isolated at time of fracture had worse PROMIS-29 function (β= -3.83 p= 0.02) and ability to participate in social roles (β= -4.17 p= 0.01) at 1 year. Secondary analyses found that pre-fracture loneliness was associated with clinically meaningfully worse function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep, pain and ability to participate in social roles at 1 year, (all p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-fracture social isolation was associated with worse outcomes 1 year after surgical repair of low energy hip fracture. This data suggests loneliness may be more strongly associated with important patient centric metrics than pre-fracture social isolation. Given the dearth of modifiable risk factors in this population, future studies are needed to evaluate whether improving social connections could impact outcomes in this rapidly growing demographic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…21–24 Other promising interventions include the development of intergenerational partnerships, programs to facilitate volunteering, and nonhuman companions. 25–28…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Social Isolation on 1-Year Outcomes After Surgical Repair of Low Energy Hip Fracture

Mandl,

Rajan,

Lipschultz

et al. 2024

Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma

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“…Maybe this “usual” profile of volunteer is more beneficiated by the action of volunteer because they have more continuity in this activity as a result of their higher commitment and alignment with altruist values. Volunteering seems to be more strongly associated with less loneliness when the continuity and intensity of volunteering is higher (Akhter-Khan et al 2022 ; Windsor et al 2008 ). People in our study who volunteered prior to the COVID-19 exhibited more consistent participation in the following years (50.4% in T1 and 54.1% in T2), compared to those who began volunteering during the first year of the pandemic (only 30.8% continued in the subsequent year).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Senior volunteers: addressing loneliness in times of COVID-19

Torres,

Martínez-Gregorio,

Oliver

2023

Eur J Ageing

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Volunteering in old age plays an important role in addressing feelings of loneliness, but little research has been conducted on the impact of engaging in volunteering activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the longitudinal impact of volunteering on feelings of loneliness. We analyzed data from 31,667 adults aged 50 years and older in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), across three consecutive waves (one before the pandemic and two during the COVID-19 pandemic). Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted for loneliness, using volunteering and several control variables as independent variables, and found that even after controlling for previous loneliness, volunteering has a protective effect against experiencing feelings of loneliness. Those who participated in volunteering activities before or during the second pandemic period had a lower risk of loneliness during the second pandemic period. Volunteering during the second pandemic period, before and during the second pandemic period, and during all three periods measured in the study was negatively associated with the odds of feeling lonely. Encouraging volunteering among older adults can be a useful strategy to prevent loneliness during future emergency situations like the COVID-19 outbreak.

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“…Thus, older respondents below 60 years were excluded. Participants were categorised according to functional age brackets: 60–69 (young‐old), 70–79 years (old‐old) and 80+ years (oldest‐old) (Akhter‐Khan et al., 2023; Toyama et al., 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The well‐being equation: How inner fulfilment drives the impact of older persons on the Ghanaian society

Oduro

2024

Int J Older People Nursing

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BackgroundUnderstanding and managing the complex processes of ageing is a critical function of gerontological nursing, especially when it comes to older people’s well‐being and their contributions to society. Globally, older persons contribute in many ways to families and communities. However, the relationship between older person’s overall well‐being and their propensity to contribute to society remains an important gap in research.ObjectiveThe study examined the association between well‐being and the impact of older persons on Ghanaian society.MethodsA secondary analysis of longitudinal survey data of the 2014/15 Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE Wave 2) conducted by the World Health Organization was used. The multilevel logistic regression technique was used to examine four dimensions of well‐being and their associations with high social contribution among older persons. The output was reported as odds ratios (OR).ResultsThe results show that older persons who had high physical and psychological well‐being were more likely to contribute to society (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.68), (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.32, 2.33). However, those with high levels of emotional and spiritual well‐being were less likely to make social contributions (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.88), (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.66, 1.18).ConclusionThis study shows a positive association between well‐being and older persons’ societal impact. Good mental and physical health encourage societal involvement among older persons, while high emotional and spiritual well‐being may lead to less societal contribution.Implications for practiceThese findings are important for nursing policies promoting social contribution and well‐being among older persons 60 years and over in Ghana.

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Caregiving, volunteering, and loneliness in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review

Cited by 18 publications

References 73 publications

The Effect of Social Isolation on 1-Year Outcomes After Surgical Repair of Low Energy Hip Fracture

The Effect of Social Isolation on 1-Year Outcomes After Surgical Repair of Low Energy Hip Fracture

Senior volunteers: addressing loneliness in times of COVID-19

The well‐being equation: How inner fulfilment drives the impact of older persons on the Ghanaian society

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