Objective　Connectedness is essential for maintaining the physical and mental health of older adults. However, measurements that consider the presence of community-dwelling people and explicitly focus on an individual's subjective sense of connectedness have not yet been established. This pilot study aimed to develop a draft scale that comprehensively measured older adults' perceptions of community-based connectedness with people.Methods　The scale development comprised three phases; item review, pre-test, and field verification. Phase 1 (item review) involved creating an item pool and evaluating content validity. Phase 2 (pretest) involved evaluating face validity and conducting item analysis on the preliminary version of the scale. Phase 3 (field verification) involved distributing the preliminary scale to 800 Japanese men and women aged ≥ 65 years residing in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Validity was assessed by factorial validity using exploratory factor analysis and concurrent validity using correlation analysis. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficient using the internal consistency method.Results　The evaluation of content validity in Phase 1 and face validity in Phase 2 yielded 30 items. In phase 3, of the 800 questionnaires that were distributed, 343 were returned, of which 309 included responses to all items and were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 22-item scale comprising three factors that assessed perceptions of community-based connectedness. The Cronbach's α for the total scale was 0.967, and the α coefficients for inclusion, reciprocity through provision, and reciprocity through reception were 0.941, 0.915, and 0.928, respectively. The total scale scores were significantly positively correlated with purpose in life (rs = .453, P < .001) and negatively correlated with loneliness (rs = -.307, P < .001).Conclusion　The 22-item draft scale exhibited adequate reliability and validity. Perceptions of connectedness measured by this scale can be used to support public healthcare interventions for community-dwelling older adults.

AIM:We developed a self-assessment scale-Older Adults' Perceptions of Community-based Connectedness with People-to assess older adults' comprehensive perceptions of their connectedness with others in the community. A specific aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of this scale.METHODS:Participants consisted of 1000 men and women aged 65 years or older, living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Factorial validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, while concurrent validity was assessed using correlation analysis. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficient using the internal consistency method, and the stability coefficient was confirmed using the test-retest method.RESULTS:Responses were received from 380 participants, and 358 participants who responded to all items were included in the analysis. The developed scale comprised 22 items with three factors: "Perception of Inclusion" (α = .947), "Perception of Reciprocity through Reception" (α = .937), and "Perception of Reciprocity through Provision" (α = .910). Correlation analyses indicated that concurrent scales were positively correlated with Ikigai and negatively correlated with loneliness on the total scale. The model fit was comparative fit index = 0.933, goodness-of-fit index = 0.854, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.818, and root mean square of approximation = 0.081. The stability coefficient of the total scale scores was 0.875 (95% CI: [0.830, 0.908]).CONCLUSIONS:The developed scale had adequate reliability and validity. The perceptions of connectedness measured using this scale can be used by public health and nursing care professionals to prevent loneliness and isolation among older adults living in the community.

BACKGROUNDWe developed a program that encourages interaction among older people living at home by combining face-to-face and online activities and examined its effects on older adults' psychosocial health.METHODSIn this mixed-methods study, we recruited 11 women and 6 men (Mage = 79.5 ± 6.4 years), who lived in a rural community and participated in a senior citizen club. The intervention was conducted for 13 months, comprising monthly face-to-face group and social media activities. For the program process evaluation, we collected focus-group interview data on participants' perceptions of their personal lives, club membership, and community post-intervention. For the outcome evaluation, we collected six outcome measures pre- and post-intervention: loneliness, subjective health, subjective well-being, self-esteem, social support and social activity satisfaction. Finally, through the integration of the process-outcome evaluation, we inferred what effects the program had on participants' psychosocial health.RESULTSIn the process evaluation, we identified four themes: 'Stimulation brought about by relationships with peers,' 'Realization as to where they feel they belong,' 'Rethinking of oneself in the community,' and 'Awareness of attachment to and coexistence with the community.' In the outcome evaluation, the outcome measures were maintained without significant decline post-intervention.CONCLUSIONThrough the integration of the process-outcome evaluation, we deduced three effects of the program on psychosocial health: (1) fulfilment of subjective health, (2) maintenance and assurance of moderate distance connectedness and (3) orientation toward aging in place.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICEThis study offers a promising opportunity for further development and research into community-based preventive nursing care intervention strategies to maintain the psychosocial health of homebound older people in communities with social activity groups.

AIM:This study aimed to clarify the concept of older people's connectedness with people in the community within the literature.METHODS:This study was based on Walker and Avant's concept analysis method. We used PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases and included peer-reviewed articles that were published in English between January 2010 and April 2023. After assessing eligibility and applying exclusion criteria, 25 articles were analyzed.RESULTS:Attributes included sense of belonging to the community achieved through interactions and feeling of togetherness through interrelationships, which consequently led to the maintenance of healthy physical and mental states and independent living, the acquisition of the ability to overcome difficulties, and the creation of a sense of meaning in life through coexistence.CONCLUSION:We identified the concept of older people's connectedness with people in the community in a contemporary context. Connectedness is a useful concept to consider in nursing care because it seems to evolve into comprehensive health, including the physical and psychosocial health of older adults.

Connectedness among older people is essential for healthy communities, especially among rural populations where limited social interaction and associated health effects may be cause for concern. In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application. The study assessed 10 participants (mean age = 76.2 years) living in rural Japan who regularly participated in a senior citizens' club. From July 2019 to January 2020, the participants used a social media application developed by our research team to meet the needs of older people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Six themes representing older rural people's perception of connectedness were identified: (1) thoughtful consideration for members strengthened even without them meeting face-to-face, (2) encouragement received from familiar members, (3) joy in sharing daily routine with neighbors, (4) courage to advance through face-to-face interaction, (5) willingness to continue club membership, and (6) fear of disrupting club's harmony. Participants who used the application felt compensated for the lack of social interaction opportunities in rural settings and strengthened their existing relationships.