Healthcare professional assisting patient

Guides for Healthcare Professionals

As a healthcare professional, your support is vital. When you champion the health and wellbeing of a carer, you dramatically improve outcomes for both the carer and the care recipient. Here, you will find practical information, tools, and guides designed to help you quickly identify carer needs and connect them with the appropriate support available through the WISECARER platform and our partner networks.

Impact of Social Prescribing as an Early Health and Community Intervention

The Loneliness-Dementia Connection

Research demonstrates a link between loneliness and cognitive decline. Chronic loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50% in older adults, even after controlling for demographics and health status (Guarnera et al., 2023). A longitudinal study of 12,030 participants aged 50 and older from the Health and Retirement Study found that loneliness was associated with a 40% increased risk of dementia. Furthermore, cognitive abilities declined 20% faster among those who reported loneliness over a 12-year follow-up period (U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory, 2023).

The scale of this issue is significant: approximately 13% of people aged 65 and older experience loneliness, with this figure rising to one-third of adults aged 45 and over (Guarnera et al., 2023). These statistics underscore the critical importance of early intervention.

Broader Health Impacts of loneliness

The health consequences of loneliness and social isolation extend well beyond cognitive function. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory (2023):

Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29% respectively
Lacking social connection carries a mortality risk equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day
Poor social connection is associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease
Social disconnection correlates with a 32% increased risk of stroke

Social Prescribing: A Preventative Approach

Social prescribing offers a powerful preventative intervention by addressing loneliness before it escalates into more serious health conditions. By connecting individuals to community-based services, social and local activities, and support networks, social prescribing:

Provides early intervention in dementia prevention
Reduces risks associated with cardiovascular disease
Decreases the likelihood of premature death
Mitigates stroke risk factors

Social prescribing represents a transformative approach to healthcare that moves beyond traditional medical models. It charts a new way forward by better connecting patients with community services and programs, empowering and supporting individuals to proactively manage their health and wellbeing through meaningful social engagement.

References

Guarnera, J., Yuen, E., & Macpherson, H. (2023). The impact of loneliness and social isolation on cognitive aging: A narrative review. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, 7(1), 699-714. https://doi.org/10.3233/adr-230011
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

Additional Resources

More Australian studies on the benefits of social prescribing can be found at the Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE): https://aspire.org.au

Working with Carers: A Practical Guide for Health Professionals

Produced by Arafmi, the “Working with Carers” resource provides essential and actionable strategies for integrating carer support into your daily clinical practice. It offers clear steps, tools, and information to help you effectively recognise, engage, and refer carers for the support they need; ensuring they feel seen, heard, and supported within the healthcare system.