Feasibility of a Telephone-Delivered Group Meditation Intervention for Chronically Ill Socially Isolated Older Adults.
Clinical gerontologist January 1, 2025 Lydia Wailing Li, Rita Xiaochen Hu, Mariko Foulk 2 citations
A pilot program tested whether a meditation intervention delivered by telephone could reduce social isolation in older adults. Fourteen of sixteen enrolled participants (87.5% retention) completed six weeks of weekly group loving-kindness meditation training and daily practice via telephone conference, followed by six weeks of extended group practice. Participants were community-living adults aged 60 and older with multiple chronic conditions who reported feeling socially isolated. Completers showed high attendance (95%) and acceptability, and a statistically significant increase in social interaction at follow-up. Qualitative responses indicated changes in emotion regulation, motivation, confidence, and sense of belonging. The intervention appears feasible, acceptable, and potentially beneficial for this population.