Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing loneliness. As people retire and experience the negative health effects of aging, they lose access to many common social activities, like work functions and all kinds of physically challenging group events like sports.
In their research, Aylaz et al (2012) found that loneliness and depression score were significantly correlated, meaning that loneliness leads to worse health outcomes for elderly people. This is a huge problem, as the geriatric population is the fastest growing worldwide.
Thankfully, there is hope, as there are interventions and other ways to combat loneliness. Adams et al (2004), Aylaz et al (2012), and Hedayati (2020) all found that social relationships lower loneliness and depression scores. However, Hedayati (2020) points out that it is not enough to simply put elderly patients in retirement communities. The relationships must be quality and frequent to experience significant effect.
In fact, loneliness scores were lowest in partnered individuals, with those who had close community relationships second. Those with no social ties and those who had experienced recent loss fared the worst (Adams et al, 2004).
What this tells us is consistent with community social psychology. Older adults lack a sense of community, specifically emotional connections and integration and fulfillment of needs (Gruman et al, 2017). In order for interventions with older adults to be truly successful, it is important to encourage community building and reduce the potential for loneliness and loss of purpose wherever possible.
Sources
Adams, K. B., Sanders, S., & Auth, E. A. (2004). Loneliness and depression in independent living retirement communities: Risk and resilience factors. Aging & Mental Health, 8(6), 475-485. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860410001725054
Aylaz, R., Aktürk, Ü., Erci, B., Öztürk, H., & Aslan, H. (2012). Relationship between depression and loneliness in elderly and examination of influential factors. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 55(3), 548-554. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.03.006
Gruman, J.A., Schneider, F.W., & Coutts, L.A. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hedayati, D. O. (2022). Lonely now or forever? challenges in studying interactions and interventions: A letter to the editor re: The longitudinal association between loneliness and depressive symptoms in the elderly: A systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 34(12), 1057-1058. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610222000904