Recognising and addressing loneliness and social isolation in older people

Loneliness is widely recognised as a problematic issue in UK society. Older people are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation for various reasons, and the effects of these can be detrimental to their physical and mental health and well-being. Recognising the signs and symptoms associated with loneliness and social isolation is central to beginning the process of assessment and intervention. This article describes the concepts of loneliness and social isolation and explores their link to physical and mental health. The author also discusses some ways in which nurses can measure loneliness and provides some examples of interventions, such as health coaching and social prescribing, which can help to reduce the experiences of loneliness and social isolation in older people.