The Effectiveness of Logotherapy in Mitigating the Social Isolation of neglected Institutionalised Older People

There are various types of elder abuse; one of the most prevalent and most harmful abuses is neglect. Social isolation is one of the most common consequences of neglect, with an inability to find meaning in life closely associated with both these issues. One intervention that might be used with older people suffering from neglect and social isolation is Logotherapy - a meaning-based intervention. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Logotherapy in mitigating the social isolation of older people suffering from neglect. This study was developed using a quantitative research design, and with a purposive sample of forty-three socially isolated older individuals in a single institution for the elderly in Cairo, Egypt. The study follows a quasi-experimental study model. A social disconnectedness scale and a perceived isolation scale were used to assess both degrees of social isolation. The intervention lasted for twelve weeks, with two weeks of follow-up work. A significant difference emerged between the intervention and control groups. The results indicate that enabling older people to experience meaning in life by emphasising the value of social relationships and interactions has a positive effect on their social networks.