Life in lockdown: Social isolation, loneliness and quality of life in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had an unprecedented effect all over the world, especially in older individuals. The aim is to evaluate the social isolation, loneliness and quality of life of elderly individuals dur-ing the COVID-19 pandemic and to map suggestions to reveal and improve the current situation. This was a scoping review. Articles since December 2019 to March 2021 published on PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, CINAHL databases with the following MeSh terms ('COVID-19', 'coronavirus', 'quality of life' 'aging', 'older people', 'elderly', 'loneliness' and 'social isolation) in English were included. The research, by consensus, resulted in seven studies selected for full reading, including three descriptive and cross-sec-tional studies, a quasi-experimental study, a pre-post pilot program, an editorial note and a correspondence. In generally, these recommendations were grouped as evaluating the current state of loneliness and isolation in elderly people, making more use of technology opportunities, using cognitive behavioral therapies and dif-ferent individual intervention components. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aims to evaluate the social isolation, loneliness, and quality of life of elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with suggestions including utilizing technology opportunities and cognitive behavioral therapies to improve the current situation.