Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poor health and higher health care costs among older adults. Our objective was to determine if older adults identified as at risk for loneliness by a Medicare Advantage health plan could benefit from a proactive telephone support program. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot efficacy study of outbound calls from an established community-based telephone program to support older adults identified as at risk for loneliness. One hundred and twenty-one older adults were enrolled and completed surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Outcomes included loneliness (3-item UCLA loneliness scale), depression (PHQ-2 screen), anxiety (GAD-2 screen), and unhealthy physical and mental health days (CDC Healthy Days Measure). Quantitative data were analyzed using multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression, and open-ended responses were analyzed thematically. Over 6 months, participants had reductions in loneliness (46% to 28%, p<0.001), depression (36% to 25%, p = 0.07), anxiety (63% to 43%, p = 0.004), unhealthy mental days (14 to 8, p<0.001), and unhealthy physical days (15 to 11, p<0.001). Participants reported high satisfaction with calls, and many felt the calls improved overall mood or health. Findings can inform trials to address loneliness through telephone support and partnerships between community-based organizations and payors.

中文翻译：

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为老年人提供主动电话干预，以解决健康计划发现的孤独感


社会孤立和孤独与老年人健康状况不佳和医疗保健费用较高有关。我们的目标是确定被 Medicare Advantage 健康计划确定为有孤独风险的老年人是否可以从主动电话支持计划中受益。我们对来自已建立的社区电话计划的呼出电话进行了一项混合方法试点效果研究，以支持被确定为有孤独风险的老年人。招募了 121 名老年人，并在基线、 3 个月和 6 个月时完成了调查。结果包括孤独 （3 项 UCLA 孤独量表）、抑郁 （PHQ-2 筛查）、焦虑 （GAD-2 筛查） 和不健康的身心健康天数 （CDC 健康天数测量）。使用多变量混合效应 logistic 回归分析定量数据，并按主题分析开放式响应。在 6 个月的时间里，参与者的孤独感（46% 至 28%，p<0.001）、抑郁（36% 至 25%，p = 0.07）、焦虑（63% 至 43%，p = 0.004）、不健康的心理天数（14 至 8，p<0.001）和不健康的身体天数（15 至 11，p<0.001）有所减少。 参与者报告对电话的满意度很高，许多人认为这些电话改善了整体情绪或健康状况。研究结果可以为试验提供信息，以通过电话支持以及社区组织和付款人之间的伙伴关系来解决孤独感。