Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Availability Heuristic

The Availability Heuristic

A heuristic is a general problem-solving framework (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). You can think of these as mental shortcuts that are used to solve problems. Different types of heuristics are used in different types of situations, and the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of five conditions is met (Pratkanis, 1989):

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Impact of working in continuity of care models on Australian midwives: A scoping review.

Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives·2025

Same author

Misconceptions on behavioral cough suppression therapy for pediatric nonspecific cough: A response to Weinberger and Buettner's commentary on Fujiki et al.

Pediatric pulmonology·2024

Same author

Prevalence of Anxiety as a Variable in Treatment Outcomes for Individuals With Chronic Refractory Cough.

American journal of speech-language pathology·2023

Same author

Effect of Behavioral Cough Suppression Therapy Delivered via Telehealth.

Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation·2022

Same author

Physician-Assisted Dying: Access and Utilization in Patients with Movement Disorders.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2022

Same author

Nursing older people·2016

Same journal

Pressure ulcer healing in hospitalised older adults: a scoping review.

Nursing older people·2026

Same journal

Supporting effective shared decision-making with people with dementia.

Nursing older people·2026

Same journal

How to develop nursing student practice placement opportunities in care homes.

Nursing older people·2026

Same journal

Building resilience through adversity: exploring the experiences of older migrant women.

Nursing older people·2026

Same journal

Recognition and management of hearing loss in older adults in care homes.

Nursing older people·2026

Same journal

Performative empathy in dementia care: ethics and practice.

Nursing older people·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

Published on: November 15, 2013

[Not Available].

Jane Reynolds¹

¹RCN Mental Health and Older People Forum.

Nursing Older People

|June 19, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Social isolation in older adults can lead to avoidable hospital admissions. Developing community support services, including befriending and home care, can help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.

More Related Videos

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Published on: November 1, 2012

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

Published on: December 28, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

Published on: November 15, 2013

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Published on: November 1, 2012

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

A Submerged Filter Paper Sandwich for Long-term Ex Ovo Time-lapse Imaging of Early Chick Embryos

Published on: December 28, 2016

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Public Health
Social Care Policy

Background:

Social isolation is a significant risk factor for hospital admissions among older adults.
Existing healthcare systems may not adequately address the social determinants of health in elderly populations.
The November issue of Nursing Older People highlights the issue of avoidable admissions.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the link between social isolation and avoidable hospital admissions in older individuals.
To identify community-based interventions that can mitigate the risk of hospital admission due to social isolation.
To emphasize the role of social support services in geriatric care.

Main Methods:

Literature review and analysis of existing social care provisions.
Case study examples illustrating the impact of social isolation.
Expert commentary on the effectiveness of community-based support.

Main Results:

Befriending services, day care, and community alarm systems show potential in reducing hospital admissions.
Home carers play a crucial role by providing both personal care and companionship.
Targeted social interventions can decrease the burden on acute hospital services.

Conclusions:

Community-based social support services are vital for preventing avoidable hospital admissions in older people.
Integrating companionship and personal care through home carers is a key strategy.
Policy development should prioritize funding and expansion of these supportive services.