Reducing social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has in many ways challenged the health and well-being of people, and more widely, the welfare systems in the Nordic countries. Due to regulations and lockdowns, many people have experienced social isolation, and certain vulnerable groups – such as older adults and those with disabilities – have been hit especially hard.As loneliness has implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, the consequences of the pandemic are significant for health and social care as a whole.This report presents cases of what was done in the Nordic region to alleviate loneliness during the pandemic. The material for this report was collected between June and September 2022. The five Nordic examples show that there are many ways to tackle social isolation and loneliness.