Public Policy and Politics in Health Care

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY 1
Public Policy and Politics in Health Care Paper
Student Name
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PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY 2
Public Policy and Politics in Health Care
Introduction
Social interactions are considered vital to human emotional well-being. However, many
still do not recognize the possibility that such connections are not only a biological requirement,
but also imperative to survival and physical well-being. Studies show that infants under custodial
care with minimal human contact barely thrive and often die. In fact, isolation and loneliness
have such adverse effects that solitary confinement is often employed as a form of punishment,
or affliction. Regardless, a majority of the global population still endures regular periods of
isolation. News headlines from Germany, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom
also revealed that the world is currently facing a potential loneliness epidemic (Holt-Lunstad J. ,
2017).
Despite the fact that there are numerous community-based programs, such as, the Aged
and Community Services Australia (ACSA) (2015), whose members advocate for the needs of,
and support the numerous elders located in metropolitan and rural Australia, there ought to be
more public health policies that facilitate well-being, choice, and a better quality of life for the
elderly in the nation. This paper, thus, focuses on the elderly in Australia restricted to their
homes in the local community. It will take into consideration the definition of a new health
policy in their favor, the purpose of the policy, how the policy will address the issue of social
isolation and loneliness, and propose how this policy may be implemented to promote better
social connection and inclusion. In addition to raising awareness on the aforementioned issue,
this paper hopes to initiate a conversation about a local network policy that may contribute
towards better community engagement for the elderly in Australia.
1. New Health Policy and the Way That It Addresses Significant Health Issues

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY 3
Even as numerous studies have established that social isolation and loneliness is a
significant and relevant public health concern, there is little research pointing towards the
potential of population-base intervention strategies in curbing social isolation and loneliness
(Goodman, Adams, & Swift, 2015). Many who have experienced social segregation and
loneliness often request for services that are both reliable and sustainable in the maintenance
connection pathways, such as, a form of initial services, followed by possible reintegration into
the society (Backburn, 2013). However, this form of pathway often requires the efficient
collaboration of key partners towards local integration, for instance, in community-based
planned partnerships, mental health service integration, and programs led by local authorities
(Steptoe, Shankar, Demakakos, & Wardle, 2013). This new health policy, therefore, proposes a
local public health network based on regional collaborative efforts to ease social isolation and
loneliness as a potential source of suffering among the elderly in Australia.
2. A Brief Description of the Health Policy, and a Description of How It Addresses a Health
Issue
2.1. Brief Description
Policy Title: Local Public Health Networks for the Prevention of Isolation and Loneliness
among Elderly in Australia
2.1.1. Purpose
The existing studies on the issues behind social isolation are more in comparison to
those focusing on the potential remedies for social isolation. Nevertheless, there have been
certain analyses which revealed the potential impact of numerous intervention strategies on
reducing loneliness and isolation, such as, the one undertaken by the University of Lancaster for
a housing initiative. Most importantly, among programs that have recorded real benefit, the

PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY 4
evaluation was either run at a small scale in a specific town, or at individual levels in local
communities (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, Baker, Harris, & Stephenson, 2015). Hence, the policy
suggests an approach that may be of real benefit, including real befriending, and social
integrations through group-based community approaches. This also suggests that public health
has a significant role to play in aiding the interpretation of system-wide approaches in
remedying social isolation (Shor & Roelfs, 2015).
2.2. How Policy Addresses Issue
According to current social and psychological research studies, the quality, as opposed to
the number of social bonds, is vital. This implies that all strategies and policies aiming to address
the issue of loneliness have to encourage the elderly to establish strong and meaningful
relationships, rather than simply interacting with more people (Benevolent Society, 2013). These
ideas have been informed by theories based on enablement, autonomy, and independence. The
proposed policy thereby addresses the concern by actively preparing the local elderly community
to take ownership of the available opportunities and overcome their loneliness.
The issue of agency and active participation are particularly essential as depicted in
studies of dementia and loneliness. These studies indicate that, during interviews, those living
with dementia and social isolation stressed on the importance of real and meaningful
relationships, as well as the value of interacting frequently with familiar people. However,
despite this, their caregivers and family members often mistook their feelings of loneliness with
social segregation, and sent them to daily noisy activities frequented by unfamiliar people. As
such, there are significant benefits in engaging in meaningful activities with others. Qualitative
interview of older people residing in Australia also indicated that there was a crucial distinction
between those who believed themselves to be lonely, and those who did not. The older people