Sensor-Based Assessment of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Survey

Abstract

Social isolation (SI) and loneliness are ‘invisible enemies’. They affect older people’s health and quality of life and have significant impact on aged care resources. While in-person screening tools for SI and loneliness exist, staff shortages and psycho-social challenges fed by stereotypes are significant barriers to their implementation in routine care. Autonomous sensor-based approaches can be used to overcome these challenges by enabling unobtrusive and privacy-preserving assessments of SI and loneliness. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of sensor-based tools to assess social isolation and loneliness through a structured critical review of the relevant literature. The aim of this survey is to identify, categorise, and synthesise studies in which sensing technologies have been used to measure activity and behavioural markers of SI and loneliness in older adults. This survey identified a number of feasibility studies using ambient sensors for measuring SI and loneliness activity markers. Time spent out of home and time spent in different parts of the home were found to show strong associations with SI and loneliness scores derived from standard instruments. This survey found a lack of long-term, in-depth studies in this area with older populations. Specifically, research gaps on the use of wearable and smart phone sensors in this population were identified, including the need for co-design that is important for effective adoption and practical implementation of sensor-based SI and loneliness assessment in older adults.

What kind of a problem is loneliness? Representations of connectedness and participation from a study of telepresence technologies in the UK

“…Detection of loneliness using technology involves wearables and home sensors capturing data about the activity patterns of individuals. Data captured on mobility within and outside the home, communications, and sleep patterns have been studied in comparison with measures of loneliness and social isolation for younger ( 24 ) and older cohorts ( 25 , 26 ). Although uncertainties remain as to the effectiveness of this kind of detection, not least in relation to ethical and privacy issues ( 27 ), this approach makes it possible to develop biomarkers or phenotypes of loneliness and to use machine learning to predict loneliness levels ( 28 ).…”

Examining the Effect of Contactless Intergenerational Befriending Intervention on Social Isolation Among Older Adults and Students’ Attitude Toward Companionship: Content Analysis

“…Hence, boredom, compounded by the feeling of loneliness over a prolonged period, may result in depression [ 18 ], which is a mental disorder that can be controlled in a timely way by identification of the needs of individuals and restoration of successful attention in meaningful activities such as intergenerational conversations. More than 56 million adults aged ≥65 years live in the United States, accounting for approximately 16.9% of the nation’s population [ 19 ]. In this population, >7 million (13%) are socially isolated.…”