A phone call to alleviate loneliness in the pandemic

Loneliness in the elderly, a dangerous risk factor for overall mortality and conditions such as stroke and heart disease, has been one of the side effects of the pandemic and social distancing measures.

A U.S. study published in Jama Psychiatry tested a simple program intended to counteract loneliness by means of a telephone call service. This was an easily deployable and scalable intervention, not involving healthcare professionals but non-medical volunteers, at a time when the pandemic is forcing healthcare professionals to focus on other priorities.

There were 240 participants in the randomized trial, divided into two groups. The participants were clients of Meals on Wheels Central Texas, an organization that provides home delivered meals to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Callers were trained using a 1-hour videoconference session, a short video demonstrating techniques through role playing, as well as handouts and videotaped instructions regarding the logistics of the program. Callers were provided with empathy-driven communication techniques, which gave priority to listening and asking questions related to topics raised by participants. There were daily phone calls during the first week and, after this, the participants chose the frequency of the calls.

The intervention reduced loneliness, depression, and anxiety when compared with the control group and improved the general mental health of participants within 4 weeks.