Keywords

Older adults: socialization; assisted living; health; well-being

Abstract

Older adults, defined as individuals over the age of 65, are a growing population in the United States, with projections estimating this group will reach approximately 80 million persons by 2050. Over 90% of older adults are diagnosed with a chronic condition, which can make it difficult to carry out the activities of daily living. As a result, some older adults reside in assisted living facilities, where dedicated staff provide daily support. However, issues in the delivery of care within these settings, including unmet socialization needs and complications among care staff, may contribute to social isolation. Programs designed to address this concern include socialization interventions that incorporate human or animal support. Previous research has primarily focused on the social health benefits of these programs; it remains less clear whether studies have adequately examined mental and physical health benefits (the three facets of one’s overall health). Additionally, it is unclear if studies have examined program impact on care staff. Thus, a systematic review from 2015 to 2025 was conducted to investigate the health benefits of socialization interventions for older adults and their potential impact on care staff. Five programs met inclusion criteria, with publication dates from 2016 to 2024. All studies reported statistically significant improvements to social health, whereas only three reported improvements to mental health. Two studies found improvements to physical health. No studies collected data regarding impact on care staff. While socialization interventions provide some evidence of their ability to enhance social health, methodological gaps, including small sample sizes, limit the ability to draw conclusions about their potential mental and physical health benefits. Continued development of these programs, along with more rigorous research, is needed.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Gryglewicz, Kim

College

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Department

School of Social Work

Thesis Discipline

Gerontology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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