Editorial: Technological innovations to address social isolation and loneliness in older adults

Abstract

Editorial on the Research Topic Technological innovations to address social isolation and loneliness in older adultsSocial isolation and loneliness are widely recognized as a global challenge for population aging (1). Mounting evidence has shown that both social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased risks of major physical, cognitive, and psychological morbidities as well as lower perceived wellbeing and health-related quality of life among older adults (2).Among various policy and social service delivery approaches, innovative technologies have emerged as a promising solution to reduce social isolation and loneliness for this population, and/or to increase support to family members of older adults in need (3,4).While our research community continues to face the challenges of finding feasible and costeffective solutions to improving social connection and support for older adults, the historical and global context of the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the advantages of using digital technology to assist vulnerable populations such as older adults in both residential homes and institutional settings.This Research Topic includes over 20 contributions from authors all over the world. Their papers represent the frontiers of the interface between the challenges of the need to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults and the research opportunities associated with the advancement of digital technologies. Several themes are emerging as summarized below. . Mobile technology use reduces lonelinessMobile technologies have been instrumental in transforming the way in which older adults interact with each other, find information, and access resources to improve their health and wellbeing (5). Behaviors such as making video calls, participating in social media, or simply using the internet to search for information, can help improve social connection, reduce loneliness, and attain a higher quality of life.In a narrative review of the literature describing the use of video calls in geriatric institutions between 2000 and 2021, Naudé et al. from France reviewed 15 studies focusing on the usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of video calls, and conducted a qualitative, deductive thematic analysis inspired by a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) multidimensional model. They found encouraging evidence for the feasibility of video call use in geriatric institutional settings,