Social Isolation and Loneliness – Clinical Guidelines

For Health Care Professionals

Find clinical tools and resources to support your patients or clients.

For Older Adults & Care Partners

Find resources and tools to support mental health and well-being for yourself and loved ones.

Tools & Resources

Explore our tools and resources for understanding and addressing social isolation and loneliness.

Discover the very first Canadian guidelines on social isolation and loneliness!

These guidelines were developed for health care and social service professionals. The purpose of these guidelines is to empower and support clinicians in their work with older adults who may be at risk of or already experiencing the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness. These guidelines will help providers recognize, assess and treat isolation and loneliness among older adults. Our literature review indicates that these clinical guidelines are also the first of their kind to be developed internationally.

Guidelines and Related Documents

  • Report cover for the Clinical Guidelines.

    Canadian Clinical Guidelines on Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

    We developed the first Canadian clinical guidelines to support health and social service providers to assess and address social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Read our guidelines and supporting resources to learn more about the risk, impact and possible interventions to address social isolation among older adults.

  • Social Isolation and Loneliness - What healthcare and social service professionals should know

    Social Isolation and Loneliness Key Takeaways from Guidelines

    Looking for a quick summary about key information presented in the clinical guidelines for social isolation and loneliness? Print this info sheet for your office and share it with your colleagues.

  • Icon with open book

    Social Isolation and Loneliness Article by CCSMH

    Read the Op-Ed written by Dr. David Conn, CCSMH Co-chair and Claire Checkland, CCSMH Executive Director.

Read the press release (February 28, 2024)

Meet the team:

On Page - Video Section

  • Social Isolation and Loneliness – Presentation at the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting

    Watch the presentation by Dr. David Conn during the 2023 CAGP-CCSMH Annual Scientific Meeting.

  • Webinar: Overview of the guidelines on social isolation and loneliness

    Overview of the clinical guidelines (2024), presented by Dr. David Conn, Geriatric Psychiatrist, CCSMH Co-Chair.