Price Bob
Healthcare education and training consultant.
Nurs Older People. 2015 Sep;27(7):31-9. doi: 10.7748/nop.27.7.31.e722.
Social isolation and loneliness are significant threats for older people and may be associated with mental and physical health problems. This article revisits what is meant by social isolation and loneliness and explores the way in which social change can trigger both problems. Social networks are discussed as the means by which older people can mediate the stresses of change around them. The article summarises some of the health consequences of loneliness, indicates some simple measures nurses can use to limit the risk of institutional loneliness and then examines how collaborative community ventures, mentoring and befriending schemes can help older people to access and rebuild social networks that may assist them to sustain wellbeing. Case study material is used to highlight contrasting profiles of older people who may be either more or less at risk of social isolation.
社交孤立和孤独对老年人来说是重大威胁，可能与身心健康问题相关。本文重新审视社交孤立和孤独的含义，并探讨社会变革引发这两个问题的方式。文中讨论了社交网络，它是老年人调节周围变化压力的一种手段。本文总结了孤独对健康的一些影响，指出护士可以采取的一些简单措施来降低机构性孤独的风险，然后研究合作社区项目、指导和交友计划如何帮助老年人建立和重建社交网络，这些社交网络可能有助于他们维持良好的状态。案例研究材料用于突出不同老年人面临社交孤立风险高低不同的情况。
