“This is What Loneliness Looks Like”: A Description of a High-Risk Population of Palliative and Oncology Patients

Background Loneliness exacerbates symptom burden and reduces quality of life in serious illness. Social prescribing–linking patients to non-clinical community activities–offers a novel approach to address loneliness in palliative care. Objectives To describe demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of oncology patients identified as lonely and referred to Art Pharmacy, an arts-based social prescribing program, within a palliative care setting. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for 48 patients referred to Art Pharmacy's social prescribing services at the Georgia Cancer Center of Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital. Demographics, mental and physical well-being scores, social determinants of health, and healthcare utilization data were analyzed. Results Most patients were older, non-Hispanic Black women experiencing financial strain, food insecurity, and transportation barriers. Anxiety exceeded depression severity; mood disorders, loneliness, and social isolation were leading referral reasons. Discussion Findings characterize loneliness in a safety-net palliative oncology population. Social prescribing may help alleviate this burden, warranting further evaluation.