Loneliness
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this research is to study whether sending letters helps reduce loneliness for either the facility resident or the teenager.
Detailed description
Hypothesis: Our hypothesis is that a social program connecting patients in residential care facilities with high school students through monthly letter writing would positively impact quality of life for both, reducing quantitative and qualitiative measures of loneliness Aims, purpose, or objectives: Our objective is to reduce loneliness and increase quality of life for patients residing in residential care facilities and for high school students. Background (Include relevant experience, gaps in current knowledge, preliminary data, etc.): In response to the Covid pandemic, to protect their residents, residential care facilities have implemented restrictions limiting visitors as well as social activities. Anecdoctally this has negative impacted the quality of life of those residents, increasing their loneliness. Previous studies have shown positive impact of intergenerational programs including penpal programs.
Interventions
OTHERLetters to increase social connection with goal to alleviate loneliness
Our hypothesis is that a social program connecting patients in residential care facilities with high school students through monthly letter writing would positively impact quality of life for both, reducing quantitative and qualitiative measures of loneliness
Sponsors
Mayo Clinic
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
5 care facility residents paired with a similar amount of students as a pilot. If this program is successful, we will plan to amend IRB to include larger numbers
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Care facility residents with capacity to make decisions: * Measured via their most recent cognitive assessment; * Subjectively measured via nursing staff. * High school students will be invited via recommendation of their instructors and school administrative staff: * Parental permission will be required.
Exclusion criteria
* Care facility residents that have significant cognitive impairment. * Residents who lack decision-making capacity.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loneliness Alleviation with Letter Writing | 6 months; may be extended | Writing letters between Long Term Care Residents and Students: Increasing Connection to Alleviate Loneliness |
Outcome results
None listed