Social Isolation in Older Adults

Abstract

Social isolation (the objective state of having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others) and loneliness (a subjective sense of isolation) are serious but underappreciated public health risks affecting a significant proportion of the older adult population. Every individual needs social connections to survive and thrive. But as people age, they often find themselves spending more time alone. Being alone can leave older adults more vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, which can affect their health and well-being. Social isolation is known to be associated with higher risks for health problems such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. Globally, more than 25% of older people living in society face social isolation. This is a major concern given that the population aged 65 and over is expected to outnumber that of children under five in human history. Although a number of gerontological studies have identified various risk factors that may lead to social isolation, such as poor health, mental illness, geographical location, communication difficulties, place of residence, being a single male, and transportation difficulties, studies on risk factors are limited in the literature. In order to fill the gap in this field, our study examined the multidimensional risks and multilevel variables affecting the danger of social isolation in the adults aged 60 years and older in the community.