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A newly published scoping review by Andrew Wister, professor and director of the 91��ܽ Gerontology Research Centre (GRC), and Mélanie Levasseur, professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, in collaboration with colleagues from the GRC, and other Canadian and U.S. institutions, is providing insights into how resilience frameworks can be applied to better understand and address the increasing challenge of social isolation and loneliness (SI/L) among older adults.

This issue has become especially urgent in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified experiences of isolation for many older individuals. The article, titled “,” presents a comprehensive review of existing research while also introducing a new theoretical model to guide future research and interventions in this field.

Bridging the Gap in Research

Despite an increase in research on SI/L in recent years, the development of theoretical models, particularly those integrating resilience, has failed to keep up. Resilience, which is broadly defined as the capacity to adapt positively in the face of adversity, offers a promising but underexplored framework for understanding how older adults experience and respond to isolation and loneliness.

To help fill this gap, the research team conducted a scoping review of over 1,600 articles, ultimately identifying 17 studies that specifically addressed resilience in relation to SI/L among older adults.

Thematic analysis of these studies revealed four key ways resilience intersects with SI/L:

1. Coping self-efficacy to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness
2. Moderating expectations as a mechanism for fostering resilience
3. The role of social support and environment in buffering COVID-19 stressors
4. Resilience as a mediator between SI/L and mental health outcomes

Introducing the RSIMA Framework

One of the most significant contributions of the paper is the introduction of a new theoretical model: the Resilience and Social Isolation Model of Aging (RSIMA). This model reconceptualizes SI/L as a dynamic and continuous process, rather than a fixed condition. It emphasizes the interplay between individual coping strategies, community level resources, and broader systemic or environmental influences that shape how older adults experience social connection and disconnection over time.

By positioning resilience as both a personal trait and a socially embedded process, the RSIMA framework highlights how targeted interventions can strengthen the capacity of individuals and communities to prevent or reduce SI/L. This systems-level perspective offers a more integrated approach to both understanding and addressing the issue.

Shaping Future Research

As Canada’s population continues to age, the need for coordinated, evidence-based responses to SI/L is becoming increasingly urgent. This study highlights the importance of embedding resilience-building strategies across healthcare systems, community services, and public policy initiatives.

By advancing a unified theoretical model and identifying key research gaps, the authors provide a foundation for future work that can more effectively address the complex, multi-layered nature of social isolation and loneliness in later life. It marks an important step toward developing sustainable solutions to what is now recognized as a major public health concern.