Communication Matters: Loneliness in Senior Living Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Communication Studies

Background:

• Senior living communities (SLCs) offer social networks, but pandemic-related social distancing disrupted resident socialization.
• This disruption may have increased loneliness perceptions among older adults in SLCs.
• Understanding factors influencing loneliness during health crises is crucial for resident well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between perceived provider communication and loneliness in SLC residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To examine how individual characteristics, such as education level, moderate this relationship.
• To identify communication strategies that can mitigate loneliness in stressful times.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 657 residents (aged 60+) in Nebraska SLCs in December 2020.
• Ordinary least squares regression models analyzed associations between communication perceptions and loneliness.
• The study considered variations in these associations based on educational attainment.

Main Results:

• 53% of respondents reported feeling very lonely during the pandemic.
• Helpful provider communication about the COVID-19 pandemic correlated with lower perceived loneliness.
• Communication about services and amenities did not show a similar association, and the effect was absent in highly educated residents.

Conclusions:

• Provider communication is vital for mitigating loneliness in SLC residents during disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The positive impact of communication on loneliness is more pronounced in residents with lower educational attainment.
• SLC providers can enhance resident well-being by optimizing communication strategies during stressful periods.