Santa Cruz De La Palma

Loneliness is the gap between the social connections a person has and those they desire, and it can negatively affect physical health, mental well-being, and increase risks for cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. This research aims to assess how a multidimensional community-based intervention impacts unwanted loneliness among people over 65 years old who live alone and face social risk or isolation on La Palma island. The study also seeks to increase social interaction opportunities, improve social skills, promote self-care and healthy habits, reduce negative thoughts, and provide education on sleep hygiene and non-drug treatments. The intervention, called Compartiendo Salud, is a multicomponent program designed to promote health and prevent loneliness in older adults living alone. It includes five workshops held over one week, each lasting 2.5 hours, with interactive and engaging activities that encourage learning and social connection. The workshops cover sleep hygiene, healthy and sustainable eating habits, physical activity and exercise, memory and music therapy, and digital literacy. Each session addresses factors that contribute to loneliness and social isolation. Participants will undergo assessments before and after the intervention, focusing on their feeling of unwanted loneliness. Researchers will measure changes in loneliness at three months post-intervention. The study will monitor attendance and require participation in at least four of the five sessions. The total involvement includes pre- and post-intervention measurements to evaluate the intervention's impact on loneliness and health management in this population.