Older people who report loneliness have increased risk of mortality and functional decline
- Morgantown Department, School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Correspondence to: Dr Laurie Ann Theeke
School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown Department, PO Box 9620, HSC-South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9620, USA; ltheeke{at}hsc.wvu.edu
Commentary on: Perissinotto CM, Stijacic Cenzer I, Covinsky KE. Loneliness in older persons: a predictor of functional decline and death. Arch Intern Med 2012;172:1078–84.
Implications for practice and research
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National screening recommendations are needed for loneliness.
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Assessments for loneliness should be a component of primary care for older adults.
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Interventions focused on the poorly adapted cognitive processes associated with loneliness warrant further study.
Context
Prevalence rates of loneliness have been reported to be as high as 17% in samples of older adults in the USA.1 Historically, scientists viewed loneliness as a social phenomenon. Recently, loneliness has been reconceptualised as a biopsychosocial stressor that contributes to poor health. Loneliness reflects a person's …
