Older adults are at higher risk of social isolation compared to younger adults (1). The COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified this problem with lockdowns and social distancing measures designed to decrease risk of infection in older adults. As a result, an unprecedented number of older adults have found themselves isolated and disconnected from others. This study shows how the Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) is a large-scale, volunteer-based, friendly telephone support program was designed to address this unmet need.
Impact / Outcome
The subgroup of participants with higher baseline depression scores had significant improvements in depression scores over the 8-week period measured. Similarly, participants with higher baseline anxiety scores had an improvement over the same period, which, approached significance. Moreover, despite peaks in the pandemic and related stressors, our study found no significant increase in stress, depression, anxiety or fear of COVID-19 scores.
Funding sources
Private
Key Metrics
Provide isolated older adults with accessible and scalable mental health support in the community; Isolated older adults that improved their mental health
Operating model
Fully privateYear published
01 January 2022