BOSTON: Experiences of loneliness and social isolation can lead to increased health care use among older adults, according to new research.
The study found that the frequency of physician visits was particularly influenced by chronic loneliness and suggests that the identification and targeting of interventions for lonely elders may significantly decrease physician visits and health care costs.
To gauge loneliness, study participants were asked how often they felt they lacked companionship, how often they felt left out and how often they felt isolated from others. Their responses, ranging from ‘often’ to ‘some of the time’ to ‘hardly ever or never,’ were then used to create an index of loneliness…