Prevalence and Correlates of Social Isolation Among Older Adults in Subsidized Housing

Social isolation is an increasing public health concern. Older residents in subsidized housing may be susceptible to isolation given high rates of chronic illness/disabilities, low income, and living alone. This cross-sectional study examined correlates of social isolation among over 3,000 older adults from nearly 100 subsidized housing communities across the United States.

Respondent Lubben Social Network Scale-6 scores, demographic data, and health information were collected in 2019 by a nonprofit housing organization and linked to the Neighborhood Atlas Area Deprivation Index. Associations between social isolation and other variables were assessed using logistic regression.

The mean respondent age was 75.9 years; 67% were female, 33% were male, 38.8% were White, 15.5% were Black, 7.8% were Hispanic, and 27.5% were Asian. Among all respondents, 29.8% were isolated. Adjusting for demographics, multilevel logistic regressions demonstrated significant associations between isolation and poor self-rated health, functional impairment, mental health distress, and knowing/relying on fewer neighbors.

This study sheds light on the prevalence and correlates of social isolation among older adults who live in subsidized housing managed by a large nonprofit housing organization. The findings from this study suggest that contextual and structural factors must be further investigated to better understand social isolation among older subsidized housing residents. Ultimately, this work informs efforts to identify socially isolated older adults and evidence-based interventions to address this public health concern.