Loneliness harms older people’s health, research shows

Loneliness can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of older people and is of increasing concern for public health, a new study shows.

A report from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) suggests that about 10% of older people are affected by chronic or persistent loneliness. It also finds that loneliness among older people may be linked to depression, increased nursing home admission, decreased quality of life, and cognitive decline.

The report — compiled by Brian Harvey and Kathy Walsh for the ageing research and development division at IPH — examines loneliness in particular among older people, and the policy and service interventions to tackle the issue.