Grant: Catalyst Grant: Patient-Oriented Research

Because of the increase in one-person households and the geographic dispersion of families, loneliness and social isolation (LSI) may be more common for older adults now than in the past. Loneliness refers to having fewer or less close relationships than a person would like, whereas social isolation means not having many relationships with other people. LSI have been linked to the development of physical illnesses, mental health problems, impaired cognitive functioning and a higher risk of death. Low-income older adults in social housing have many important risk factors for LSI. The majority are women who live alone with inadequate income, may have personal health challenges and have often lost a spouse or partner. In the spring of 2019, our team ran a successful 14-week program (Building Bridges) to enhance social interaction with 53 older adults in seniors' social housing. A major research priority for participants was the development of strategies to address LSI. Our team includes four patient advisors who participated in the program and two older adults from the Saskatoon Council on Aging. This proposal reflects the guidance and direction from these key team members. Our aim is to co-design, implement and evaluate patient-oriented strategies to address LSI in two seniors' social housing units. Using a variety of research methods and guided by Age-Friendly and Positive Aging approaches, we will: 1) determine the patterns of LSI in the units; 2) elicit the perspectives, priorities and preferences for strategies to address LSI through meaningful and cooperative dialogue with tenants; 3) assess the ways in which Life Story Work might address LSI; 4) co-create and evaluate an eight week group program; and 5) build community capacity to create a sustainable approach to addressing LSI. World Cafés, surveys, interviews, Life Story Work and focus groups will provide us with rich, patient-oriented data to meet our objectives and guide future research.