Social Isolation in Later Life: Extending the Conversation

Abstract

As Canada's population continues to age, social isolation among older people is a growing concern and national-level priority. Although much is known about individual-level risks and negative health outcomes associated with social isolation in later life, the impact of life course trajectories and the more collective experiences are seldom considered. Current definitions and program responses tend to rely on individualized approaches to social isolation. Here, we argue that the conversation be extended to consider the social and cultural aspects of social isolation among older people. Specifically, we suggest that definitions and approaches consider three particular dimensions: temporal factors, spatial factors, and the relationship between social isolation and exclusion. Doing so, we argue, would result in a more inclusive approach to social isolation in late life, and the development of capacity to address social isolation among a wide range of older people, particularly the needs of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

COVID-19 and the portrayal of older people in New Zealand news media

“…The same media that made older New Zealand Europeans (NZE) feel included in wider society left older Chinese and Koreans feeling socially excluded because of perceived racism and their invisibility within this coverage (Morgan et al 2019). Pandemic media coverage, if conducted in this vein, could contribute to older people feeling socially excluded (Weldrick and Grenier 2018) and lead others, particularly those from younger generations, to question older citizens' worthiness to receive national support and goodwill (Flett 2020). The aim of this media analysis is therefore to explore how the New Zealand media represented older people during COVID-19.…”

Development and Concurrent Validity of a Composite Social Isolation Index for Older Adults Using the CLSA

“…However, this objective versus subjective distinction has been challenged over recent years, in part because subjective feelings often accompany an absence of social interaction (Pettigrew, Donovan, Boldy, & Newton, 2014;Weldrick & Grenier, 2018;Zavaleta, Samuel, & Mills, 2017). Indeed, Weldrick and Grenier, (2018, p. 78) state that, "definitions began to move away from defining social isolation as entirely objective or subjective, and towards the development of multi-pronged definitions that included objective and subjective dimensions."…”

“…However, this objective versus subjective distinction has been challenged over recent years, in part because subjective feelings often accompany an absence of social interaction (Pettigrew, Donovan, Boldy, & Newton, 2014; Weldrick & Grenier, 2018; Zavaleta, Samuel, & Mills, 2017). Indeed, Weldrick and Grenier, (2018, p. 78) state that, “definitions began to move away from defining social isolation as entirely objective or subjective, and towards the development of multi-pronged definitions that included objective and subjective dimensions.” Thus, objective and subjective dimensions of social isolation (including social network and loneliness components) are intertwined (Pettigrew et al, 2014), do not necessarily completely overlap (Nicholson, 2009), and may be well-suited for inclusion within a composite index.…”

“…Specifically, social isolation has often been broadly divided into objective structural elements of one’s social network, such as number of contacts, size, and density, as well as functional elements pertaining to more qualitative aspects of social interactions, such as the types and amount of social support experienced and their qualitative assessment (Stringhini et al, 2012; Valtorta et al, 2016). Early definitions of social isolation also differentiated it from loneliness (Weldrick & Grenier, 2018). Whereas social isolation pertains to the objective social contacts in an individual’s social network, loneliness is the subjective perceptions and reactions that individuals have to their environment and relationships, and the perception that intimated social needs are not being met (Newall & Menec, 2017).…”

Reciprocal Interactions Between Gut Microbiota and Host Social Behavior

“…Perhaps, one of the most significant social impairments may be that of social isolation, often worst endured by the elderly (Weldrick and Grenier, 2018 ). Evidence suggests, however, that elders who interacted more often with the people in their communities have GM resembling those of younger individuals (Kinross and Nicholson, 2012 ).…”