Social Isolation [Care Plan]

The words social isolation surrounded by healthcare related vector images.

Social isolation is the lack of interaction with other people and society as a whole. This state of aloneness can be intentional or unintentional. If the absence of any social contact is not on purpose, the affected individual might experience loneliness and other negative feelings.

Nursing Diagnosis: Social Isolation…

Related to…

Common Signs & Symptoms …. (evidenced by)

Expected Outcome

Assessment

… that he or she does not have many friends and does not go outside very much
…that his or her social life changed since a new life-changing diagnosis
…that he or she has difficulty to engage in conversations and feels stressed and exhausted during social interactions
….that he or she feels rejected and misunderstood

Nursing Interventions for Social Isolation

The patient’s point of view provides a baseline for establishing the plan of care. It gives an insight into whether the patient thinks that he or she has control over the situation and wants to be alone or if the situation is not within the client’s control.

Determining these factors that cause patients to isolate provides a starting point. Some reasons, such as age, disease, or other conditions, are out of the patient’s control. Nurses have to address these medical conditions in the care plan. This ensures the best possible treatment.

People are more likely to open up and be honest if they feel accepted.

The more involved the patient is in establishing the care plan, the more compliant he or she will be. This also allows for personalizing the care plan as much as possible.

Being caught up in everyday life, the patient might not see the problem causing his or her loneliness. Sometimes it takes help from outside to determine the problem.

The patient has to be able to recognize situations that cause social isolation. To be able to improve upon the problem, the patient needs to identify the issue first.

Providing the client with the necessary skills will increase self-esteem and prepare for social situations.

To get increasingly comfortable in social situations, the patient needs to expose himself or herself to these types of circumstances.

Showing appreciation keeps the patient motivated and increases self-esteem.

It can be therapeutic for the patient to discuss matters with other people.

It might make it easier for the patient to start and keep a conversation when there is an interest in the topic.

Ackley, B., & Ladwig, G. (2014). Nursing diagnosis handbook (10th ed.). Maryland Heights: Mosby Elsevier.

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Loneliness | Cigna. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/health-wellness/chronic-loneliness

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