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 growing health concern that significantly affects this demographic, as the lack of social interaction has been linked to various physical and mental health issues, including heart disease and depression.
Social isolation’s impact is profound; studies suggest it can have health consequences comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. With the U.S. population aging, effective interventions are crucial. The program, developed by Kim Gans, a professor at UConn’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, and Kali Thomas, a gerontologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, seeks to equip meal delivery drivers with the skills to recognize and address signs of isolation among their clients.
Training Program Details
Published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, the study evaluates a cost-effective training program designed for drivers of federally funded meal delivery services, such as Meals on Wheels. The program includes a video and a website intended to enhance drivers’ awareness of social isolation and improve their interactions with clients. In 2021, approximately 1.5 million homebound older adults received meals through such programs, highlighting their importance in combating food insecurity and promoting social engagement.
“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,” said Gans, a principal investigator at UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP).
The research team conducted focus groups with drivers from various states, including Mississippi, Rhode Island, Georgia, Texas, and California, to assess existing training methods and gather feedback on the new materials. Many drivers expressed that social isolation is a prevalent issue among their clients, with one participant noting, “You are the only folks they do see during the week.” Despite this, many reported receiving inadequate training to address these concerns.
Impact and Future Steps
After integrating feedback from focus group participants, the researchers tested the training intervention with meal delivery programs in Texas, Rhode Island, and Mississippi. The findings indicated that the video and website significantly increased drivers’ intent to identify social isolation and engage more actively with clients.
“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,” commented a participant from Rhode Island.
The next phase of the project focuses on securing additional funding to broaden the intervention’s reach. Gans expressed optimism about scaling the program: “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.”
This initiative not only addresses nutritional needs but also provides a model that can be adapted for other services catering to homebound older adults, such as oxygen delivery and home health care. Gans is also collaborating with Caitlin Caspi, associate director of InCHIP, to evaluate innovative solutions being implemented by Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island (MOWRI) to enhance their programming.
Recently, they published a study protocol in BMC Public Health for a randomized controlled trial that will investigate the effects of adding community health worker coaching and healthy grocery bag deliveries to MOWRI’s meal program. This approach aims to improve diet quality, tackle social isolation and food insecurity, and enhance the overall quality of life for homebound older adults.
For more information on the studies discussed, see 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 and 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.
