Social isolation and cognitive decline in long-term care: A longitudinal, administrative data study

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care homes across Canada have been operating under varying degrees of lockdown or restriction. These public health restrictions have put drastic limitations on residents' social interactions, including restricting visitors and volunteers from entering homes, reducing or cancelling home activities, restricting group dining, and at times requiring residents to isolate in their rooms for days to weeks. Media reports suggest that ongoing social isolation and loneliness in long-term care homes has had a devastating impact on the memory and thinking skills of long-term care residents. In this study I will: 1) describe the social isolation experienced by long-term care residents in Ontario before and during the pandemic; 2) identify and explore different patterns of resident memory and thinking decline before and during the pandemic, and; 3) evaluate if social isolation and loneliness is associated with declines in memory and thinking among residents of long-term care. This evidence will be used to help establish effective policies and practices that support resident health and well-being.