Tools for Identifying and Preventing Loneliness in Older Adults

Abstract

Loneliness among the older adults is a pressing problem worldwide. The deaths of loved ones, deteriorating health, the anticipation of one’s own death, and the absence of a person one could rely on result in people experiencing loneliness in older age. The goal of the European project "Digi-Ageing" is to combat age-related loneliness through digital tools and training for healthcare professionals. These tools include a digital loneliness identification tool (screening tool) to identify loneliness and a digital loneliness intervention tool (reminiscence tool), supported by a dedicated curriculum for user training. This paper's primary objective is to discuss the research methodology followed to address the issue of loneliness in the context of the Digi-Ageing project, and introduce the Digi-Ageing platform and its two novel tools designed to assess the degree of loneliness among elderly individuals, as well as steps to address them. The paper explores the tools' innovative features and potential applications across various countries. Furthermore, it aims to initiate a discourse on the tools' future prospects, particularly regarding their implementation with diverse vulnerable groups.