Title

Social Connection in Long-Term Care Homes: A Scoping Review of Published Research on the Mental Health Impacts and Potential Strategies During COVID-19

Authors

Bethell, Jennifer (a, b)

Aelick, Katelynn (c)

Babineau, Jessica (d, e)

Bretzlaff, Monica (c)

Edwards, Cathleen (f)

Gibson, Josie-Lee (g)

Hewitt Colborne, Debbie (c)

Iaboni, Andrea (a, h)

Lender, Dee (g)

Schon, Denise (i)

McGilton, Katherine S. (a, j)

Author Affiliations

^a KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
^b Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
^c Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office, North Bay Regional Health Centre, North Bay, Canada
^d Library and Information Services, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
^e The Institute for Education Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
^f Family Councils Ontario, Toronto, Canada
^g Ontario Association of Residents' Councils, Newmarket, Canada
^h Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
ⁱ Lakeside Long-Term Care Centre Family Council, Toronto, Canada
^j Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Publisher

Elsevier Inc.

Date of Publication

FEB 2021

Series/Report no.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021-02-01, Volume 22, Issue 2, Pages 228-237

Key words

Social integration; social networks; social engagement; social support; social isolation; social capital; loneliness; nursing homes; long-term care

Abstract

w  Objectives: Good social connection is associated with better health and wellbeing. However, social connection has distinct considerations for people living in long-term care (LTC) homes. The objective of this scoping review was to summarize research literature linking social connection to mental health outcomes, specifically among LTC residents, as well as research to identify strategies to help build and maintain social connection in this population during COVID-19.

w  Design: Scoping review.

w  Settings and Participants: Residents of LTC homes, care homes, and nursing homes.

w  Methods: We searched MEDLINE(R) ALL (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus, Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest), Embase and Embase Classic (Ovid), Emcare Nursing (Ovid), and AgeLine (EBSCO) for research that quantified an aspect of social connection among LTC residents; we limited searches to English-language articles published from database inception to search date (July 2019). For the current analysis, we included studies that reported (1) the association between social connection and a mental health outcome, (2) the association between a modifiable risk factor and social connection, or (3) intervention studies with social connection as an outcome. From studies in (2) and (3), we identified strategies that could be implemented and adapted by LTC residents, families and staff during COVID-19 and included the articles that informed these strategies.

w  Results: We included 133 studies in our review. We found 61 studies that tested the association between social connection and a mental health outcome. We highlighted 12 strategies, informed by 72 observational and intervention studies, that might help LTC residents, families, and staff build and maintain social connection for LTC residents.

w  Conclusions and Implications: Published research conducted among LTC residents has linked good social connection to better mental health outcomes. Observational and intervention studies provide some evidence on approaches to address social connection in this population. Although further research is needed, it does not obviate the need to act given the sudden and severe impact of COVID-19 on social connection in LTC residents.

주요 내용

사회적 연결(Good social connection)은 더 나은 웰빙, 건강, 복지와 관련이 있다. 본 연구는 LTC(Long-Term Care Homes) 거주자들 사이에서 사회적 연관성을 정신 건강 결과와 연계한 연구 문헌을 요약한다. 또한, COVID-19 기간 동안 LTC 거주자들의 사회적 연관성을 구축하고 유지하는 데 도움이 되는 전략을 식별한다.

ISSN

1525-8610

DOI

10.1016/j.jamda.2020.11.025