Accompaniment of isolated people by volunteers from the neighborhood (ACOMPANYEM). A community trial with a nested qualitative study.

Abstract

Introduction: Social prescription targets people with social isolation or unwanted loneliness and offers them community activities to improve their emotional well-being. Disabled homebound people cannot access social-health community assets. Neighborhood volunteers may accompany them at home or walk them outdoors. Community emotional well-being referent may enhance these interactions, conducting emotional counseling and management groups for volunteers.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of community intervention of accompaniment and emotional management with volunteers on unwanted loneliness in people with social isolation, their emotional well-being, and quality of life.

Method: A community non-randomized trial on isolation with a qualitative nested study on unwanted loneliness. Detection by a driving group, made up of neighborhood organizations and the community health team, in an opportunistic way. Implementation of the multi-level volunteer-isolated people intervention. In cases where we detect architectural barriers, we will provide technical aids (portable stairlifts).