Physical disability threatens a person's life style and can be detrimental in its effects on mood and activity. We describe a counseling program for severely disabled persons who were involved in telephone support groups in order to solve problems related to feeling discouraged, lonely, or being too inactive to remain healthy. A majority of the participants reported being less anxious and more socially involved as a result of the intervention. Ease with which groups were conducted and positive feedback from participants suggests that research should evaluate the cost effectiveness of phone intervention and explore potential of treating affective problems with scheduled phone contact.

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An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an outreach program for 84 isolated elderly persons who had been legally blind for many years. Visual impairment and restriction of environment is reported to contribute to varying degrees of loneliness, depression, and social isolation. Group therapy by telephone was provided to a sample of 42 elderly blind veterans to provide a format for problem solving and treatment for affective disorder related to isolation. Significant decreases in loneliness and increase in activity level were attributed to therapeutic intervention by telephone.