AbstractSocial isolation is a pervasive problem for older adults and interventions designed to reduce it have met with only limited success. The current research was designed to identify observable behaviors and qualitative aspects of emotional distress that differentiate socially active from socially isolated elderly nursing home residents. The investigation consisted of two parts: The first involved direct observation of subjects (n= 51) and the second involved a structured interview with a subsample of subjects (n= 23), including an assessment of social anxiety, social competence and depression. Results of a multiple regression analysis suggest that staff views of social isolation are related to rates of specific social behaviors, social anxiety, and mental status. Implications for treatment are discussed.