Improving Social Isolation, Resilience, And Perceived Stress In Cognitively Impaired Older Adults

Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are significant problems facing older adults and are associated with notable physical and behavioral health difficulties.This clincal demonstration project aims to evaluate changes in social isolation, resilience, and perceived stress in older adults following the completion of an 8-week 'Connection Plans' program.Methods: Veterans completed two Connection Plans sessions lasting 30-60 minutes, either by phone or video.The intervention focused on improving mind, body, and connection practices including re-connecting with patients with family/friends, nature, spirituality, art, or music.Paired sample t-tests or sign test were conducted to assess for changes in brief resilient coping, social, isolation, confidence, perceived stress and cognition following completion of the program.Sub-analyses were conducted on those that endorsed social isolation and low confidence in managing social interactions.Results: 62 Veterans were enrolled in this clinical demonstration project (mean age = 74.6(7.0);85% male; 81% Caucasian; 65% rural).Significant improvements in the brief resilient coping (BRCS mean change and 95% confidence interval 1.3 (0.5, 2.1; p=0.002) was noted following Connection Plans intervention.There were no significant improvements in perceived stress or cognition.Among those with social isolation at baseline (N=31), there was a significant improvement in the social isolation scores (mean change and 95% confidence interval -3.0 (-5.3, -0.7; p=0.013).Similarly, those that endorsed low confidence in managing social interaction (N=13), experienced