Improving social connection in older people

A randomised controlled trial of a community based volunteer visiting programme for older people experiencing loneliness

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN76583833

Enrollment

100

Registered

2011-10-19

Start date

2011-05-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2016-10-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Loneliness and social isolation in older people Mental and Behavioural Disorders Problems related to social environment

Interventions

1. Participants in the intervention group will receive ten home visits from a volunteer visitor who has been trained for the purposes of the study 2. The visits are informal and social 3. Discussions

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Over 65 years of age 2. Living at home 3. Experiencing loneliness - must pass a screening test (score 3 or more on the 11 item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale or answer ?Yes? when asked question 5 from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Have been socially isolated all their lives 2. Visual or hearing impairment severe enough to make social contact difficult or impossible 3. Require nursing assistance 4. Dementia, psychotic illness, alcohol misuse, any tendency to violence, or personality disorder

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale measured pre and post intervention at one month and three month follow-up.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Oslo Social Support Scale 2. Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale (HADS) 3. 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-8) 4. Control, Autonomy, Self realisation, Pleasure 19 scale (CASP 19) 5. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 6. Lubben Social Network Scale 7. Pittsberg Sleep Questionnaire 8. Body mass index (BMI) 9. Timed up and go 10. Grip strength The outcomes will be measured pre and post intervention at one month and three month follow-up.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Oslo Social Support Scale 2. Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale (HADS) 3. 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-8) 4. Control, Autonomy, Self realisation, Pleasure 19 scale (CASP 19) 5. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 6. Lubben Social Network Scale 7. Pittsberg Sleep Questionnaire 8. Body mass index (BMI) 9. Timed up and go 10. Grip strength The outcomes will be measured pre and post intervention at one month and three month follow-up.

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Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026