Social Isolation in Older Adults in Japan: Sustainable Community-based Solutions

Abstract

This article details a case study that examines why feelings of social isolation can hardly be reduced in some interventions and offers suggestions for dealing with both loneliness and social isolation. The results show that feelings of social isolation can easily arise if interventions focus only on social gathering activities, because some people may choose not to participate. Implementing outreach activities can help identify untapped targets; however, older adults’ hobbies and social roles, and their surrounding supporters, should be considered further to ensure more sustainable solutions to loneliness and social isolation. The findings have implications for other countries facing similar ageing-related issues.