Social Isolation:
-Incidence: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that more than 1/3 of adults over 45 feel lonely and around 1/4 of adults over 65 are socially isolated (Loneliness and social isolation, 2020).
-Prevalence: The US Census collected that more than a quarter of the US population lives alone (Social isolation and health, n.d.). Evidence shows that a significant percentage of the American population is socially disconnected in some way and that those numbers are increasing (Social isolation and health, n.d.).
-Symptoms: Social isolation generally looks like: deep boredom, lack of interest, loss of interest in personal hygiene, withdrawal, poor nutrition and eating, significant disrepair, clutter and hoarding (Recognizing the signs of isolation, 2020). Cigna looked at some of the symptoms of social isolation as well, which included: inability to connect with others on a deeper level, no close friends, overwhelming feeling of isolation, negative feelings of self doubt, little to no reciprocation, and exhaustion or burn out with social engagement (Signs and symptoms of chronic loneliness, 2019).
-Prognosis: "During the past four decades a sizable body of evidence has emerged, including hundreds of large-scale prospective epidemiological studies and multiple meta-analyses. This evidence documents that being socially connected significantly reduces risk for premature mortality from all causes." (Social isolation and health, n.d.). There is evidence that links social isolation with adverse health consequences which include depression, impaired executive function, poor sleep, faster cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and poor immunity (Novotney, 2019).
Self Isolation
Performance Skills:
-Social interaction skills: His skills in approaches/ starts, concludes/ disengages, gesticulates, turns toward, looks, touches, places self, replies, discloses, expresses emotions, times response and duration, takes turns, and matches language restrict his abilities to relate and participate in positive social interactions which allow him to not socially isolate.
Client Factors:
-Mental functions: His sustained and shifting attention, emotional regulation and range of emotions, control and content of though, and higher level cognitive judgement, executive function, and cognitive flexibility are impaired which affects his ability to have meaningful conversation and engagement with others and allow him to not socially isolate.
Context/ Environment:
-Personal factors: All of the personal factors play a role in his ability to participate successfully in social activities. His age, upbringing, education, lifestyle all play a part in the similarities he shares with peers and therefore his ability to connect deeper with those in similar life stages and his ability to not socially isolate.
Performance Patterns:
-Roles: His roles include his future as a worker and a friend.
-Routines: His routines include communication involving technology, going to the library, and seeing an OT.
-Habits: His habits include avoiding eye contact, not taking turns in conversation, perseverating on topics of technology, and withdrawing from social interactions.
(AOTA, 2014).
Allen Cognitive Level Screen: screening of functional cognition to see if his isolation and fixation has something to do with cognition (OT list of assessments, n.d.).
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM): identifies if he has problems in occupational performance (OT list of assessments, n.d.).
Establish/ Restore: Introducing an employment internship with a job coach which can positively impact his social skills and opportunities while also presenting important job skills for seeking employment (Gilson & Carter, 2016).
Improvement: Within 6 weeks, patient will independently initiate going to a social outing 2 times a week.
Occupational Performance: Within 6 weeks, patient will independently engage with 3-5 others during errand outings such as groceries or shopping.
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