Living Conditions and Everyday Needs of the Elderly with Particular Reference to Social Isolation

Abstract

This paper is concerned with social isolation, its consequences, and the programs which may possibly combat it. We, as well as others, have located extremely isolated aged persons who reside in the community. In the past, our findings indicated that social isolation has a negative impact on the aged: it desocializes them, hampers social adjustment, and seems to reduce attitudinal independence. Isolation in the aged does not seem to be correlated with age, sex, mental status or education. It is not synonymous with mental disorder though it may result in some behavior patterns associated with mental disorder, specifically poor social adjustment and cognitive functioning. If not compensated for in time, the effects of isolation may lead to serious and, possibly, irreversible cognitive and other impairments. However, unlike senile mental disorders, the effects of isolation may be reversible through resocialization programs, such as friendly visiting, which are currently being developed for systematic evaluation.