The experience of loneliness and living with sight loss in English care homes

Abstract

Loneliness is a serious societal concern, especially the loss of social connections in later life. Those with sight loss living in care homes are thought to face particular challenges in social engagement, but research is scarce. This study aimed to examine the experience of loneliness amongst residents with sight loss; the different dimensions of loneliness; and their attitudes about the role of care homes in addressing these needs. Through in-depth interviews with 18 residents, supplemented by interviews with family members and care home managers, the research identified that residents were generally satisfied with their social situation. However, there was evidence that sight loss was not appropriately accommodated within the care home. In their efforts to enable all residents to engage in social activities, attempts to include those with sight loss could feel contrived, and residents with sight loss did not feel meaningfully involved. Residents described barriers to forming close associations, including the challenges of background noise in communal spaces and a sense that conversation in the care home lacked stimulation. Residents felt that opportunities to forge and maintain bonds with people outside the care home were limited. The research concludes that care homes should avoid inclusion-for-inclusion's sake, and future research could study the effectiveness of interventions to improve care home links to the wider community.

Keywords: Loneliness; Residential care; Sight loss; Social isolation; Vision impairment.