Objectives Evidence-based strategies to reduce loneliness in later life are needed because loneliness impacts all domains of health, functioning, and quality of life. Volunteering is a promising strategy, as a large literature of observational studies documents associations between volunteering and better health and well-being. However, relatively few studies have used randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine benefits of volunteering, and none have examined loneliness. The primary objective of the Helping Older People Engage (HOPE) study is to examine the social-emotional benefits of a social volunteering program for lonely older adults. This manuscript describes the rationale and design of the trial.

中文翻译：

---

帮助老年人参与 (HOPE) 研究：随机试验的方案和 COVID 修改

目标需要基于证据的策略来减少晚年的孤独感，因为孤独感会影响健康、功能和生活质量的所有领域。志愿服务是一种很有前途的策略，因为大量的观察性研究文献记录了志愿服务与更好的健康和福祉之间的关联。然而，相对较少的研究使用随机对照试验 (RCT) 来检验志愿服务的益处，也没有研究过孤独感。帮助老年人参与 (HOPE) 研究的主要目标是检查社会志愿服务计划对孤独的老年人的社会情感益处。这份手稿描述了试验的基本原理和设计。