For many people in modern Irish society, later life can be a time of transition. Social relationships change and social networks decline; family may be busy or live some distance away; neighbours are often unknown or at work; and friends begin to dissipate. While these changes can have a negative impact on quality of life, older people who maintain social activity are better able to cope with the challenges of ageing.

 
However, little is known about the relationship between social activity and health, or how technology interventions might improve social engagement for those at risk. The Social Connections Strand is gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between social engagement, and health, and finding effective technology interventions to lower the risks associated with loneliness and isolation.

 The social connection strand is directly addressing these issues by:

1. Collecting information on over 600 older adults through the TRIL Clinic to understand the relationship between social engagement, loneliness, isolation and various indices of physical and mental health so as to learn which aspects of social engagement are most important for health; and how social engagement mediate health outcomes.

2. Developing and evaluating technologies for older adults to learn how the positive and negative effects of social engagement can be influenced by technology interventions to improve social engagement and support healthy ageing.