Overview

• The international study examined more than 380,000 adults aged 65 and older in Canada, Finland and New Zealand over a one-year period
• Survival analyses adjusted for age, comorbidities and other risk factors showed lonely participants had a slightly lower risk of dying within a year compared with non-lonely peers
• Loneliness prevalence among home care recipients varied from 15.9% in Canada to 24.4% in New Zealand
• Researchers noted that those in better physical condition and receiving less help from family or friends were more likely to report feeling lonely
• Authors call for longer-term research to clarify causal links and urge providers to enhance social contact initiatives for isolated seniors