The prevalence and experience of loneliness in persons with cognitive impairment on an Inpatient Geriatric Unit

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults who experience loneliness are at a heightened risk for mortality. There are two distinct types of loneliness: social, in which social interactions and networks are reduced, as can result from social isolation and lack of social integration; and emotional, in which a meaningful attachment bond with another is absent. We examined the prevalence and experience of loneliness in cognitively impaired older adults receiving treatment in a mental healthcare facility.MethodFourteen participants with mild cognitive impairment or mild/moderate dementia (mean MoCA 17, range 12‐22; mean age 76, range 65‐92) completed a demographic survey, DeJong Gierveld 6‐Item Loneliness Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and a semi‐structured interview. Basic thematic analysis was used to extract major themes from the interview data. Differences in the prevalence of loneliness between low (MOCA 18 or greater) and high (MOCA 17 or less) cognitive impairment groups and correlations between cognitive impairment and loneliness were examined.ResultParticipants experienced moderate or severe loneliness (86%), emotional (79%) and social (57%) loneliness. Themes emerging from interviews included limited social networks, lack of connection or social engagement, loss of role, need for meaningful activities, missing families, dependency, and stigma. No significant differences were found in loneliness between low vs. high cognitive impairment groups. Correlational analysis suggested a negative association between social loneliness and cognitive impairment, with individuals with lower cognitive impairment scoring higher on social loneliness (r = , p = ).ConclusionLoneliness is prevalent and multifactorial in individuals with cognitive impairment receiving care in a mental health care facility.