Considering social isolation in the social determinants of health

Emerging literature recommends adding social isolation to the social determinants of health, particularly for older adults. Social factors, inclusive of education, race, social supports, and poverty, account for more than 30% of total deaths in the U.S. annually.

Care quality and access are suboptimal, particularly for minorities and those of lower socioeconomic groups, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. The absence of social relationships has been directly linked to mortality, with concerns regarding immune function and cardiovascular status for individuals lacking appropriate levels of support in their lives, whether social in nature (e.g., family, peers, support groups, spiritual or religious communities) or resource-related (e.g., financial, meals programs).

Increasing numbers of people with Alzheimer’s disease are directly related to social factors. A two-year study evaluated 1,260 at-risk adults at an average of age 69. Factors accounted for access to care, healthy foods, the environment, and the amount of social engagement. Those people who received interventions that addressed diet, exercise, cognitive performance, and social interaction had a 25% improvement in functioning across all areas compared to the control group.

For more information on incorporating the social determinants of health into your organization, see The Social Determinants of Health: Case Management's Next Frontier by Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CRP.