Interventions to address loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults: an umbrella review.

In 30 seconds

This umbrella review synthesised and appraised systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and meta-analyses of interventions for loneliness and social isolation among community-dwelling older adults. Searches covering publications from 2014 to 2025 identified 28 reviews that met inclusion and quality criteria. The authors grouped interventions into psychosocial, technological, health promotion, multicomponent, and recreational approaches. Their narrative synthesis suggests psychosocial interventions, especially when combined with technology or structured leisure, may be most effective when they support meaningful relationships and coping. No pooled effect estimate was reported.

Key findings

• The review included 28 reviews identified from 2068 records.
• Five intervention categories were identified: psychosocial, technological, health promotion, multicomponent, and recreational.
• Psychosocial approaches, sometimes complemented by technology or structured leisure, appeared most effective when fostering relationships and coping.

Why it matters

Loneliness and social isolation are relevant to older adults’ physical and mental wellbeing, and this review maps the range of approaches evaluated in community settings. Its synthesis highlights relationship-building and coping as features associated with promising interventions, while underscoring that evidence about durability, costs, and implementation at scale remains incomplete.

What to keep in mind

The narrative synthesis did not report a pooled effect estimate. The authors identify limited evidence on long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of large-scale implementation across diverse ageing populations.