Elder loneliness and associated risks: Systematic review and implication for social work practice

Systematic Literature Review Research Projects
Title: Elder loneliness and associated risks: Systematic
review and implication for social work practice.
Table of Contents

Abstract............................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Topic: Elder loneliness and associated risks: Systematic review and implication for social
work practice..........................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the project...............................................................................................1
1.2. Aim and objective............................................................................................................1
1.3. Rationale of the project...................................................................................................2
1.4. Research questions..........................................................................................................3
1.5. Scope and limitation of the project..................................................................................3
1.6. Summary of research methodology.................................................................................3
1.7. Overview of the structure of the dissertation..................................................................4
Chapter 2: Literature review (2500)...............................................................................................5
To analysis the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elder loneliness........................................5
To investigate about the determinants of loneliness among elder individuals.......................5
To analysis the impact of individual’ values and culture in dealing with loneliness.............6
To determine the challenges and Implication for social work practice when working with
elderly individuals that suffers with loneliness......................................................................6
Chapter 3: Methodology and ethical considerations (1500)............................................................6
Chapter 4: Research findings based on theme (4,000 words)..........................................................6
Theme 1: Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elder loneliness.................................................8
Theme 2: Determinants of loneliness among elder individuals.............................................8
Theme 3: Impact of individual’ values and culture in dealing with loneliness......................8
Theme 4: Challenges and Implication for social work practice when working with elderly
individuals that suffer with loneliness....................................................................................8
Summary.................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 5: Discussion (2,000)..........................................................................................................8
Chapter 6: Conclusion (1,000- 1,500 words)...................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Abstract
Chapter 1: Introduction
Topic: Elder loneliness and associated risks: Systematic review and implication for social work
practice
1.1. Background of the project
The concept of the Loneliness is tend to be associated and related with the leading of a
distressing feeling that tend to accompanies the perception that social needs of an individuals are
not being met by the quantity or especially it tend to reflects out the quality level of one's social
relationships. It has been seen that the elder people are at the increased risk of loneliness and
social isolation as they are likelier to face the issues such as the living alone as well as having
any sort of chronic illness or loss of family and friends (Lim, Eres and Vasan, 2020). Further,
research has also showed and reviled that the loneliness in the elder is also leading and giving
rise to many physical as well as mental risk within elders such as high blood pressure, obesity,
anxiety, depression, Alzheimer disease, etc. Therefore, the current project is being undertaken
and conducted to effectively review about the Elder loneliness and associated risks. Further, this
report comprises of the undertaking of systematic literature review based on thematic analysis
that supports a better analysis about the determinants of loneliness among elderly and the impact
of Covid-19 pandemic on loneliness along with the role and challenges for social workers when
working with elderly affected by loneliness.
1.2. Aim and objective
The main aim of the current project is, “To evaluate the Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on
elder loneliness along with review of challenges and Implication for social work practice when
working with elderly individuals that suffer with loneliness”.
Research objectives
 To analysis the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elder loneliness.
 To investigate about the determinants of loneliness among elder individuals.
 To analysis the impact of individual’ values and culture in dealing with loneliness.
 To determine the challenges and Implication for social work practice when working with
elderly individuals that suffers with loneliness.
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1.3. Rationale of the project
The selection of the current project topic based on Elder loneliness and associated risks is
seemed to be justifiable ad rationale as a rising number of issues related with elder loneliness is
being seen in current society that give rises to any associated risk that is depression and other
health issues. Further, it has been also seen and analysed that the social isolation as well as the
loneliness lead to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions such as the issue
related with the high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety,
depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and even death in many cases. Therefore, it is
rationale and significant to review the concept of loneliness along with analysing its key
determinants (Killgore and et. al., 2020). Further, it has been also seen and reviewed that the
spread of the covid-19 has further enhanced the challenges and issues related with the loneliness
by the way of the creating strict social distancing and lock down that further enhanced the
physical distance and issue of loneliness. Along with this, the selection of the current topic is
also relevant and rationale as the issue of isolation and loneliness is directly associated and
related with being inactive as well as starting of smoking and multiple health risk behaviours that
created many mental and health related issues. Further, the current study is also being important
and vital for the society as the feeling of loneliness is creating a lower self esteem in people and
also aiming them physical and mentally inactive that is affecting the overall ethical and
productive balance of society. Along with this, the undertaking of the current project would also
supports a better review of the key determinants of loneliness among elder individuals together
with challenges and Implication for social work practice when working with elderly individuals
that suffer with loneliness (Saltzman, Hansel and Bordnick, 2020). Thus, current project is
helpful in supporting better individual’s values and culture along with other suitable ways to
overcome and deal with the issue of the loneliness among the elder individuals. Apart from this,
the undertaking of the current project is also relevant and important from the personal aspect of
the researcher as it supports a better understanding about the issue of loneliness that has became
common in current society and also supports the review about effective ways to mitigate and
reduce issue of loneliness in elders. Apart from this, the undertaking and leading out the current
project also supports and brings out a better development of the key skills and competency level
of researcher and also supports higher understanding about loneliness for society and other
scholars.
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