Social isolation's measurements in the ageing population

Social isolation has been found to be a detrimental factor in the lives of people. This is especially true for older adults, who, by ageing, encounter also other issues, both physical and psychological. For this reason tools able to measure social isolation must be developed and used in order to identify it and allow social workers to direct possible solutions to those suffering. Several instruments have been used as assessment tools for screening for social isolation, such as the Lubben Social Network Scale, the Friendship Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Nevertheless the instrument chosen by researchers must be considered carefully for the specific purpose of the study, since they include items which may differ from one to the other.