Loneliness in older adults can be seen as a public health problem with an increased mortality rate, lower self-rated health, and an increased risk of depression. Loneliness is often described in terms of emotional, existential, or social loneliness, where social loneliness refers to a lack of valuable social contacts that provides a sense of belonging. As health deteriorates with age, so does the number of social contacts.

The research project will describe the prevalence of loneliness and associated social factors in older adults.