Abstract
Loneliness is prevalent among older adults living in aged residential care and negatively impacts on health and wellbeing. Although loneliness is a serious issue among older adults in aged residential care, there is still limited understanding of how loneliness can be ameliorated in this setting. The aim of this integrative review was to synthesise available evidence on loneliness among older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australian aged residential care settings and identify interventions that ameliorate loneliness for residents. An extensive literature search was undertaken from online databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus. A total of 338 articles published in English from 2011 to 2021 were initially identified. Seven articles satisfied the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. The main themes identified were: ‘Helping others,’ ‘Meaningful engagement and inclusion,’ and ‘Person-centred care.’ Results from studies indicate that policymakers, health care providers, and health professionals in the aged care sector need to develop and implement interventions that foster reciprocal relationships and promote quality social engagement with others. Person-centred care needs to be enacted in aged residential care to reduce loneliness in older adults. In addition, staff should support residents to maintain meaningful connections with family and friends.