A framework for facilitating human-human interactions to mitigate loneliness in elderly

Abstract

This paper introduces a multilayered framework in the field of Human-Human interaction and its related disciplines, that envisions to take a holistic approach to provide a long-term, economic and sustainable solution to mitigate feelings of loneliness and social isolation in elderly people, as well as to address housing needs and caregiver needs for children, demonstrated by young families or extended families on a global scale. Each layer of this framework consists of a distinct functionality. The first layer allows studying and analyzing the global population data and the elderly people count to identify the percentage of elderly people in different parts of the world who are currently staying alone - who might need this framework. The second layer helps to identify young families or extended families with demonstrated housing needs or caregiver needs to look after their children. The final layer consists of the methodology to develop mutually beneficial connections between these families and elderly people based on the geographic locations of the two. In the context of these connections, the elderly could act as the source of housing as well as interact and look after the young children from these families, this would provide means of human interactions and mitigate their feelings of loneliness. To add to this, when the family members come to visit the elderly, they could bring medications or address any of their other needs. This is the first of a series of publications towards the development of this framework. Here we primarily focus on developing the first layer of this framework and present the results.