Promoting health of older adults through social engagement

There is much evidence that social engagement is important for the health and well-being of older adults, and social isolation has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Social engagement has been defined in a variety of ways, but most generally includes activities in formal and informal groups. Causal arguments about the effects of engagement on health outcomes have relied on research on social support, which is related but not the same as social engagement. Antecedents and outcomes of engagement have been identified, but there is much variability in measurement and samples are often not representative. Interventions to increase social engagement range from those aimed at the individual (like telephone reassurance or friendly visiting) to those aimed at built-environment (like the Village Model or age-friendly community initiatives). Evidence to guide practice and policy developments remains weak. This presentation will review current knowledge on antecedents and outcomes of social engagement as well as current understanding about causal pathways between engagement and health. Next, an overview of interventions and their empirical support will be reviewed. An argument is made that from the health promotion perspective, social engagement needs to be considered more on par with physical activity. Interventions to increase engagement or prevent disengagement need to be developed and tested and then implemented more widely.