Researchers from the University of Connecticut (UConn), Johns Hopkins University, and Brown University have launched a training program aimed at reducing social isolation among homebound older adults. This initiative addresses a pressing health concern that affects many seniors, linking social isolation to increased risks of conditions such as heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline.
The study, published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, highlights that the detrimental health effects of social isolation are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Led by Kim Gans, a professor in UConn’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, and Kali Thomas, a gerontologist from Johns Hopkins University, the program was developed in collaboration with the Mississippi State Department of Health and researchers from Brown University.
The training consists of a video and a website designed to educate drivers working for federally funded meal delivery services, such as Meals on Wheels, on how to recognize signs of social isolation in their clients. As the U.S. population ages, meal delivery programs supported by Title III of the Older Americans Act have emerged as vital resources to combat food insecurity and promote social interaction among seniors. In 2021, approximately 1.5 million homebound older adults benefited from these meal programs.
Gans, who is also a principal investigator at UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), stated, “We developed a simple, inexpensive intervention that has the potential to be widely disseminated to meal delivery programs across the country to help their drivers reduce social isolation among their homebound clients.”
To gather insights on current training practices, the research team conducted focus groups with meal delivery drivers across several states, including Mississippi, Rhode Island, Georgia, Texas, and California. Participants revealed that social isolation is prevalent among their clients. One driver remarked, “We go to the client’s house and they’re there by themselves…You are the only folks they do see during the week.” Despite this reality, many drivers reported insufficient training to address social isolation effectively.
The focus groups highlighted gaps in training, with one participant noting, “This is how we were trained; we went in and said, ‘We’re interested in being drivers,’ and she said, ‘Great, let’s get your fingerprints…Come in and get your list Friday.’ I mean, that was our training.”
After refining their approach based on driver feedback, the research team partnered with meal delivery programs in Texas, Rhode Island, and Mississippi to test the training intervention. The results indicated that the video and website significantly enhanced drivers’ intent to identify social isolation and engage with clients in a supportive manner. A participant from Rhode Island commented, “The video helps alert viewers to the isolation experienced by those who live alone. Those who watch it can become better at recognizing the signs and doing something, even something small, to help alleviate that isolation.”
Looking ahead, the research team aims to secure further funding to expand the intervention’s reach. Gans expressed hope for future support, stating, “I hope that we can get future funding to widely disseminate this intervention and study its implementation and effectiveness with Meals on Wheels program drivers across the country.”
The implications of this project extend beyond meal delivery services, offering potential adaptations for other occupations that support homebound older adults, such as oxygen delivery services and home health aides. Gans, an expert in developing practical interventions, is also collaborating with Caitlin Caspi, associate director of InCHIP and director of Food Security Initiatives at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, on a separate project. This initiative evaluates the effectiveness of innovative solutions implemented by Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island (MOWRI) to enhance their programming.
Recently, Gans, Thomas, and their colleagues published a study protocol in BMC Public Health for a randomized controlled trial. This trial will explore the impact of integrating community health worker coaching calls and healthy grocery bag deliveries into MOWRI’s meal program, aiming to improve diet quality, address social isolation, and enhance the overall quality of life for homebound older adults.
For further details, refer to the following publications:
– Jennifer N. Bunker et al., “Developing and Testing Training Resources to Improve Social Connectedness With Homebound Older Adults Who Receive Home-Delivered Meals,” Journal of Applied Gerontology (2024). DOI: 10.1177/07334648241306176
– Isabelli L. Costa da Silva et al., “A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of adding community health worker coaching calls and healthy grocery bag deliveries to a Meals on Wheels home-delivered meal program for homebound older adults in Rhode Island,” BMC Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-24080-6
