Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Irish People

Abstract

The Council Is pleased that the results of this research dispel an enduring stereotype of old age by demonstrating that the majority of a representative sample of older people is not socially isolated or lonely. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the importance of being able to adapt to transition times in older age and the necessity for economic, social and personal resources to facilitate this adaptation and to promote 'successful ageing'. Finally, the results highlight how critical it is for older people to be able to 'get out of the house' and the Council urges that the recommendations that it has made in this regard be acted on in the short-term in order to ensure that older people do not become socially excluded in their third and fourth ages.On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank the older people and service planners and providers who took part in this research. I would like to thank sincerely the Appreciation is also extended to the officers of the two health boards that granted access and to the individuals within the health boards who identified potential participants for inclusion in the study.To all the stakeholders (planners and providers) who participated in focus group interviews a special thank you is extended for their valuable contribution.We would like to thank Dr Clare Wenger, University of Wales for permission to use the Network Assessment Instrument used in this study. We are also grateful for the information and support given to the research team on the use of the instrument throughout the study.We would also like to acknowledge the help and advice given by Dr Enrico DiTommaso, University of New Brunswick. We are also grateful for Dr DiTommaso's permission to use the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults.Finally the research team wishes to thank the many administrative staff who made an essential contribution to the completion of this study. Special appreciation is extended to Tara Cryan, Tina Saul and Rosemary Gordon for their professional skill and support. References 205Appendices 211 Terms of Reference 229Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Irish People List of Tables Table 2.1: Cronbach's alpha (confidence intervals) and intercorrelations of the three SELSA·S subscales for the overall sample Table 2.2 Network types (Wenger, 1994) . pedple's Qwn-perspectives in addition t-o th'ose of planners and providers of services for.-":qlder pepple) that may be of assistance in preventing or alleviating loneliness and social living in either rented accommodation or with relatives, poor self-rated health and lack of transport) and life events/transition times were identified by the respondents as being related to the onset of loneliness and social isolation amorlQ older Irish people. Identifying Those at Risk of Loneliness and Social IsolationIn • Social ResourcesA meaningful social network and sociai interaction appear to be the strongest supports against loneliness and social isolation (Holmen and Furukawa, 2002). This was confirmed by this report which n...

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