Social networks and the elderly: Clinical techniques

The authors describe the application of social network analysis to an elderly population living in single occupancy hotel rooms in New York City. They report significant personal networks which may be mobilized to assist these elderly persons. However, a clinical experimental study of clinical social network intervention revealed substantial limitations.This research was supported in part by grants from the Ittleson, New York, and Van Ameringen Foundations and NIMH Center on Aging Grant, No. 1-R01-MH-31745. The authors thank Arlene Adler and Joan Mintz for their assistance.