Social prescribing may sound like a wellness buzzword, but the economic stakes are real. Social isolation among older adults is associated with $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually, while stress-related absenteeism tied to loneliness costs American employers an estimated $154 billion a year.Â
As hospitals, communities and employers look for practical ways to reduce those costs, social prescribing is gaining momentum as a potentially useful public health tool.Â
kAm(9:=6 E9:D D9:7E >2J D66> :??@G2E:G6[ :E 649@6D 2 >@56= tFC@A6 92D 366? AC24E:4:?8 7@C 46?EFC:6D]Â k^Am
k9am(92E xD $@4:2= !C6D4C:3:?8nk^9am
kAm$@4:2= AC6D4C:3:?8 :D H96? 2 962=E942C6 AC@76DD:@?2= C64@8?:K6D E92E D@>6@?6 92D ?@?\>65:42= ?665D C6=2E65 E@ DEC6DD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96C@2>C6A@CE]4@>^762EFC6D^3:8\4:EJ\3FC?@FE\:D\C62=\2?5\D>2==\E@H?D\2C6\42D9:?8\:?^2CE:4=60edebdab6\d4_3\ce72\3`b2\f27cdgece4`g]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm3FC?@FEk^2m[ D@4:2= :D@=2E:@?[ @C =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 AC6D4C:36D 8C@FA 24E:G:E:6D[ DF49 2D 2CED AC@8C2>D[ ?2EFC6 8C@FAD[ @C D@4:2= D6CG:46D[ E@ :>AC@G6 E96:C 962=E9]k^Am
kAm~?6 6I2>A=6 :D k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D@4:2=CI]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$@4:2=#)k^2m[ 7@C>6C=J <?@H? 2D pCE !92C>24J[ H9:49 FD6D 4FDE@>\3F:=E D@7EH2C6 E@ >2E49 A2CE:4:A2?ED H:E9 2CED 2?5 4F=EFC2= 24E:G:E:6D E92E DFAA@CE E96:C 962=E9 8@2=D]Â Â k^Am
kAm$E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ :D @?6 @7 $@4:2=#)VD @G6C c__ A2CE?6CD] %96 k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2CED]DE2?7@C5]65F^@77:46\@7\E96\G:46\AC6D:56?E\7@C\E96\2CED^2CED\AC6D4C:AE:@?^2CED\AC6D4C:AE:@?\6?C@==^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$E2?7@C5 pCED !C6D4C:3:?8 !C@8C2>k^2m[ =2F?4965 :? a_ac[ 4@??64ED F?56C8C25F2E6 DEF56?ED H:E9 42>AFD\32D65 2CED 24E:G:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 52?46[ D:?8:?8[ G:DF2= 2CED[ 4C27ED[ >FD6F> G:D:ED[ =:E6C2CJ C625:?8D[ 2?5 =:G6 A6C7@C>2?46D] k^Am
k9am{@?6=:?6DD xD 2? t4@?@>:4 !C@3=6>[ }@E yFDE 2 $@4:2= ~?6k^9am
kAm%96 k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^a99g3haEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm&]$] $FC86@? v6?6C2=VD 25G:D@CJk^2m E:E=65 V~FC tA:56>:4 @7 {@?6=:?6DD 2?5 xD@=2E:@?V ?@E6D E92E :? C646?E J62CD[ 23@FE @?6 :? EH@ 25F=ED :? p>6C:42 C6A@CE65 6IA6C:6?4:?8 =@?6=:?6DD[ H9:49 5:C64E=J 42FD65 =@H6C 24256>:4 249:6G6>6?ED 2?5 H@CD6 A6C7@C>2?46 2E H@C<]k^Am
kAm{@?6=:?6DD :D ?@E @?=J 2 =:76DEJ=6 3FE 2=D@ 2 962=E942C6 4@?46C?] %96 25G:D@CJ ?@E6D E92E E96 962=E9 67764E @7 =24<:?8 D@4:2= 4@??64E:@? :D 4@>A2C23=6 E@Â D>@<:?8 FA E@ `d 4:82C6EE6D 2 52J]Â k^Am
kAm}6:893@FC:?8 r2?252 92D 2=C625J BF2?E:7:65 E96 :>A24E :? Vk2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^d7DfDd5HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp w62=E9:6C r2?252i p? p?2=JD:D @7 E96 !@E6?E:2= t4@?@>:4 2?5 $@4:2= x>A24ED @7 $@4:2= !C6D4C:3:?8k^2mV[ 2 a_ac C6A@CE]k^Am
kAm%96 r2?25:2? x?DE:EFE6 7@C $@4:2= !C6D4C:3:?8 7@F?5 E92E 6G6CJ S` :?G6DE65 :? AC@8C2>D 255C6DD:?8 =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? 42? 86?6C2E6 C@F89=J Sc]cb :? 962=E9 D2G:?8D]k^Am
kAmu@C 28:?8 25F=ED[ E96 C6A@CE AC@;64EDÂ acd[c__ 76H6C 9@DA:E2= 52JD 6249 J62C 5F6 E@ 72==D 2E 9@>6[Â C6DF=E:?8 :? Sahe >:==:@? :? D2G:?8DÂ 7C@> 76H6C 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D[ 2>3F=2?46 42==D[ 2?5 6>6C86?4J 56A2CE>6?E G:D:ED] xE 2=D@ 6DE:>2E6D `e[h__ 76H6C 42D6D @7 4@C@?2CJ 962CE 5:D62D6[Â f[e__ 76H6C 42D6D @7 56>6?E:2 @G6C E96 ?6IE `_ J62CD[Â e[d__ 76H6C 42D6D @7 DEC@<6 @G6C E96:C =:76E:>6[ 2?5Â a[___ 76H6C 2G@:523=6 562E9D]Â k^Am
kAmu@C J@FE9 >6?E2= 962=E9[ E96 C6A@CE 6DE:>2E6D 2Â Sdh]h >:==:@? 2??F2= :?4C62D6 :? 6>A=@J>6?E :?4@>6 2?5Â `]h >:==:@? 76H6C AC:>2CJ 42C6 G:D:ED[ H9:49 4@F=5 C6DF=E :? S``c >:==:@? :? 2??F2= 962=E9 DJDE6> 4@DE D2G:?8D]k^Am
k9amp a___\*62C (6==?6DD tIA6C:>6?E :? tFC@A6VD $A2 %@H?Dk^9am
kAm{@?8 367@C6 >@56C? 962=E942C6 DJDE6>D 3682? 6IA6C:>6?E:?8 H:E9 D@4:2= AC6D4C:AE:@?D[ tFC@A6VD DA2 E@H?D 3F:=E 6?E:C6 FC32? 6?G:C@?>6?ED 2C@F?5 E96 4@?46AE]k^Am
kAmQw:DE@C:4 DA2 E@H?D 92G6 ?6G6C 366? >6C6=J A=246D @7 EC62E>6?Ei E96J 92G6 366?—2?5 C6>2:?—DA246D H96C6 42C6 7@C E96 3@5J :?E6CEH:?6D H:E9 4F=EFC6[ E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 D@4:2= =:76[Q D2JD r9:2C2 #@?49:?:[ $64C6E2CJ v6?6C2= @7 %96 vC62E $A2 %@H?D @7 tFC@A6 (@C=5 w6C:E286 $:E6[ k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8C62EDA2E@H?D@76FC@A6]6F^?6HD^E96\?6H\6C2\@7\E96C>2=:D>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm:? 2? @77:4:2= DE2E6>6?Ek^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8C62EDA2E@H?D@76FC@A6]6FQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmvC62E $A2 %@H?D @7 tFC@A6k^2m[ @?6 @7 &}t$r~VD EC2?D?2E:@?2= (@C=5 w6C:E286 D:E6D[ :?4=F56 `` 9:DE@C:4 E@H?Di q256? 36: (:6?[ $A2[ uC2?E:š<@GJ {áK?ě[ z2C=@GJ '2CJ[ |2C:á?D<é {áK?ě[ ':49J[ q25 t>D[ q256?\q256?[ q25 z:DD:?86?[ |@?E642E:?: %6C>6[ 2?5 q2E9[ 24C@DD pFDEC:2[ q6=8:F>[ rK649 #6AF3=:4[ uC2?46[ v6C>2?J[ xE2=J 2?5 E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96D6 E@H?D 2C6 72>@FD 7@C E96:C >:?6C2= DAC:?8D 2?5 32E99@FD6D[ E96:C 962=E9 A9:=@D@A9J 6IE6?565 72C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^64@=@586D2?JH96C6]4@>^4F55=:?8\C25@?\42G6D\2?5\92J\32E9D\2H2:E\:?\2FDEC:2D\F?:BF6\H6==?6DD\DA@ED^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm36J@?5 H2E6C E96C2AJk^2m]k^Am
kAm':D:E@CD 96C6 42? 4@>3:?6 >65:42= EC62E>6?ED H:E9 D@4:2= 24E:G:E:6D DF49 2D DEC@==:?8 E9C@F89 =2?5D42A65 A2C<D[ 2EE6?5:?8 4@?46CED @C 82E96C:?8 :? 427éD 7@C 4@?G6CD2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8C62EDA2E@H?D@76FC@A6]6F^E96\8C62E\DA2\E@H?D^2?2E@>J\@7\2\8C62E\DA2\E@H?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2C49:E64EFC6 @7 DA2 E@H?Dk^2m C67=64ED E9:D A9:=@D@A9J] !C@>6?256D[ =2?5D42A65 A2C<D 2?5 6=682?E 4@=@??256D DFCC@F?5 32E99@FD6D 2?5 DA2 724:=:E:6D[ 56D:8?65 7@C 52:=J H2=<D 2?5 D@4:2= :?E6C24E:@?] %96 H:56C E@H? 92D E962E6CD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^64@=@586D2?JH96C6]4@>^?2EFC6\9@E6=D\2FDEC:2^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm?2EFC6 9@E6=Dk^2m[ 427éD[ 2?5 4F=EFC2= G6?F6D[ 4C62E:?8 255:E:@?2= A=246D 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@ >66E 2?5 :?E6C24E] k^Am
k9am(9J E96 |@56= |2EE6CD :? a_aek^9am
kAmpD E96 vC62E $A2 %@H?D @7 tFC@A6 >2C< 7:G6 J62CD D:?46 E96:C &}t$r~ 56D:8?2E:@?[ E96:C =6824J :D 282:? :? E96 DA@E=:89E]k^Am
kAmk6>mQk^6>m%@52J[ tFC@A62? E96C>2=:D> :D 6IA6C:6?4:?8 2 ?6H A92D6i ?@ =@?86C =:>:E65 E@ 32=?6@=@8:42= E96C2AJ @C >65:42= C6923:=:E2E:@?[ 3FE C2E96C 2? :?E68C2E65 @776C <?@H? 2D E96C>2= H6==?6DD—2 9@=:DE:4 6IA6C:6?46 4@>3:?:?8 AC6G6?E:G6 962=E9[ @FE5@@C 24E:G:E:6D[ 4F=EFC2= @776C:?8D[ 2?5 A6CD@?2=:K65 D6CG:46D[Q #@?49:?: 9:89=:89E65 :? E96 @77:4:2= DE2E6>6?E]k^Am
kAm%9:D C6?6H65 :?E6C6DE 2=D@ 2=:8?D H:E9 @?6 @7 E96 k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8=@32=H6==?6DD:?DE:EFE6]@C8^AC6DD\C@@>^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^8=@32=\H6==?6DD\DF>>:E\C6=62D6D\`_\H6==?6DD\EC6?5D\7@C\a_ae^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmv=@32= (6==?6DD $F>>:EVD <6J EC6?5D 7@C a_aek^2m[ DA@?D@C65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2>H2J]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp>H2Jk^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 C6A@CE 42==D :E Q%96 ~G6C\~AE:>:K2E:@? q24<=2D9]QÂ !6@A=6 >@G6 2H2J 7C@> DEC6DD7F=[ 52E2\5C:G6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E96C@2>C6A@CE]4@>^762EFC6D^8=@32=\DA2D\@A6?\6IA2?5\2?5\C6E9:?<\H6==?6DD\7@C\a_ae^2CE:4=60dee_ede4\57h6\caa2\3_h`\3a__ad7c_4`4]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH6==?6DDk^2m 2?5 E@H2C5 6IA6C:6?46D C@@E65 :? A=62DFC6[ C:EF2=[ 6>@E:@?2= C6A2:C 2?5 D@4:2= 4@??64E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? E92E 4@?E6IE[ tFC@A62? DA2 E@H?D =@@< =6DD =:<6 C6=:4D 2?5 >@C6 =:<6 E6>A=2E6D E@ C6G:D:E :? a_ae] x? v6C>2?J[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ E9:D :562 92D =@?8 6I:DE65 :? k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^56FED4946?EC6]4@>^962=E9\E@FC:D>\H:E9\EC25:E:@?\86C>2?D\:?\<FC^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96Â 7@C> @7 E96 VzFC[Vk^2m 2 5@4E@C\AC6D4C:365[ :?DFC2?46\7F?565 DE2J E@ DFAA@CE A9JD:42= @C >6?E2= 962=E9]k^Am
kAm$9@F=5 E96 &]$] 962=E942C6 2=D@ :?4=F56 D@>6E9:?8 E92E DA2 E@H?D 92G6 F?56CDE@@5 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6n %96 >@DE A@H6C7F= >65:4:?6 :D D:>A=JÂ 36:?8 :? 2 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
