Identifying Unmet Social Needs in a Patient Living in Isolation: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report shows how assessing social determinants of health can improve the care and social conditions of an isolated older patient.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates the practical benefits of integrating SDH assessments into routine healthcare for older adults.

Findings

An SDH assessment helped improve the social conditions of a patient with heart failure and cognitive decline.

Using an SDH screening toolkit can enhance healthcare professionals' ability to address social needs.

SDH assessments foster interprofessional collaboration and reduce negative emotions toward patients.

Abstract

Loneliness and social isolation are common among older adults. To deliver high-quality care to older patients, healthcare professionals should know the social conditions of their patients. Addressing social determinants of health (SDH) in daily practice is beneficial to both patients and healthcare professionals. We illustrate a patient with congestive heart failure and cognitive decline whose social conditions improved through an SDH assessment. An SDH assessment has some potential advantages, which include facilitating a comprehensive understanding of patients’ social conditions, visualizing how patients’ social conditions have changed, deepening interprofessional collaboration, and ameliorating unnecessary negative emotions toward patients. This case report conveys two key messages. Firstly, healthcare professionals have the capability to evaluate patients' social backgrounds and enhance their health and social conditions through routine care. Secondly, the utilization of an SDH screening toolkit can support and enhance this initiative.