Determination of older people's level of loneliness

Aims and objectives: To determine levels of loneliness of individuals aged 60 and above.

Background: Loneliness stands out as a social problem observed amongst old individuals living in both urban and rural areas.

Design: Descriptive study.

Methods: A total of 330 individuals aged 60 and above who visited a local health care centre at Sinop, Turkey, because of various health problems are included in the research. Data were collected using a questionnaire that determines the patients' socio-demographics and clinic specifications and uses the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and the instrumental activities of daily living list. For data analysis, percentage calculation, one-way anova, the student t-test and regression analysis were used.

Results: It has been determined that older people's UCLA Loneliness Scale point average is 47·3 ± 8·6; most of them (49·1%) were seen to have a middle-level loneliness point. Older people's Satisfaction with Life Scale point average has been determined as 12·7 ± 6·8. There is no statistically meaningful relationship between older people's life-satisfaction score average and socio-demographic and clinical specifications (p > 0·05). Older people's points in IADL are 18·8 ± 7·6. Most of them are independent in terms of fulfilment of the instrumental activities. Conclusions. In the study, when compared with the other groups, loneliness point averages were found significantly higher for men, those who had never married, primary school graduates, the childless, those who lived alone, those had a chronic disease or those who used continual medication.

Relevance to clinical practice: The social and health care systems need to recognise and address loneliness problems amongst older people. It is important to develop and test new interventions aimed at alleviating loneliness.