Implications for practice and research

• The study describes the social, emotional and existential aspects of loneliness in family caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses who are housebound, raising awareness of a prevalent and significant issue.

• More research is needed to understand the experience of loneliness across the trajectories of various illnesses and to develop a fuller understanding of existential loneliness.

Context

Loneliness is a universal, subjective experience that arises from a perceived lack of meaningful social relationships or connectedness with those around us.1 2 It is characterised by feelings of isolation, emptiness and a sense of disconnectedness from others.1 While feelings of loneliness can be transient, chronic loneliness is pervasive in society and contributes to negative …