Promising best practices implemented in long-term care homes during COVID-19 pandemic to address social isolation and loneliness: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation and loneliness (SIL) affected at least one-third of the older people. The pandemic has prompted governments around the world to implement some extreme measures such as banning public gatherings, imposing social distancing, mobility restrictions and quarantine to control the spread and impact of the novel coronavirus. Though these unprecedented measures may be crucial from a public health perspective, they also have the potential to further exacerbate the problems of SIL among residents in long-term care homes (LTCHs). However, some LTCHs have developed promising best practices (PBPs) to respond to the current situation and prepare for future pandemics. Key aspects of such practices revolve around maintaining and strengthening social connections between residents and their families which helps to reduce SIL. This scoping review looks at existing PBPs that have been implemented to reduce SIL among LTCH residents during the most recent pandemics.Methods and analysisWe will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s framework of scoping review, further developed by Levac et al. In addition, we will also apply the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ ‘Methodology for Scoping Reviews’. Ten electronic databases and grey literature will be searched for articles published from January 2003 to March 2021 in either English or French. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts and then full texts for final inclusion. Data will be extracted using a standardised form from ‘Evidence for Policy and Practice Information’. The results will be presented in a tabular form and will be summarised and interpreted using a narrative synthesis.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval is not required as no primary data are collected. Findings will be used to develop a solid knowledge corpus to address the challenges of SIL in LTCHs. Our findings will help to identify cutting edge practices, including technological interventions that could support health services in addressing SIL in the context of LTCHs and our ageing society.

Exploring experiences of loneliness among Canadian long‐term care residents during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study

“…This study suggests some of the reasons why the COVID‐19 pandemic exacerbated experiences of loneliness among residents in LTC. A significant factor was the visitor ban, which has been cited in other studies on this topic in Europe, Australia, the United States and other areas in Canada (Aho, 2022 ; Beogo et al, 2022 ; Rasnaca et al, 2022 ; Simard & Volicer, 2020 ; Van der Roest et al, 2020 ). This study provides qualitative data directly from residents and staff members to support that the visitor ban contributed to resident loneliness.…”

“…Aho ( 2022 ) from the United States suggests the COVID‐19 lockdown in LTC intensified the lonely feeling of residents. Beogo et al ( 2022 ) conducted a scoping review argue that loneliness existed among residents in LTC in Canada before COVID‐19 and the global pandemic further exacerbated the problem because residents were more isolated.…”

Perceived dilemma between protective measures and social isolation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study among Swiss nursing home directors

“…As a lesson learned from these findings, best practices should be defined for a better preparedness of professionals, in order to meet the needs of the vulnerable population of nursing home residents ( 37 ).…”

Revisiting Vaccine Hesitancy in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly for Pandemic Preparedness: A Lesson from COVID-19

“…Second, during COVID-19, there was a prolonged visit ban imposed on RCHEs [12], which socially isolated residents, in turn leading to the deprivation of social support or social loneliness [13]. Furthermore, the detachment from loved ones resulted in emotional loneliness [14].…”