Examination of factors affecting the feeling of loneliness among the elderly: Implications for intervention

Alleviating social isolation and loneliness among the elderly is a vital area for both policy and practice. However, the effectiveness of various interventions has been challenged due to lack of evidence. Twenty-four institutionalised geriatric residents from an institution in Manila were recruited. Using a non-experimental research design, participants completed questionnaires to measure their feeling of loneliness. Findings revealed that blurring of vision was the most common physical agony. While in terms of common emotional agony, feeling of irritability has been identified. No notable mental agony has been revealed by the present study. Findings support earlier studies that emphasise the social isolation and loneliness encountered among this age group. Results are intended to serve as a framework for intervention