Unpacking loneliness interventions for older adults: a Delphi study

There is limited evidence to guide the development of effective interventions to reduce loneliness. This study aimed to identify key intervention components and evaluate their contribution to reducing loneliness in older adults. The study consisted of two phases. First, a research review combined with stakeholder workshops identified 35 key intervention components. Second, in a two-round vignette-based Delphi study, experts from the public sector (n=25) and civil society (n=23) evaluated the extent to which these components contributed to reducing social, emotional and existential loneliness. Some components were evaluated as contributing to reducing all types of loneliness (e.g., ‘develop new interests’), while other components were evaluated as contributing primarily to reducing a specific type of loneliness (e.g., ‘opportunity to be meaningful to others’ for existential loneliness). These insights into intervention components and their potential for reducing loneliness form a foundation for further development, implementation and evaluation of loneliness interventions for older adults.