Loneliness Among Older Adults Receiving Long-Term Home Care Services: A Quantitative Study

Loneliness, which significantly impacts physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity, is recognized as a global concern among older adults. Although home care services are generally viewed as beneficial, they may also fall short in addressing the psychosocial needs of older adults. This study aims to assess loneliness and its associations with well-being and personal characteristics in older adults in Lithuania receiving long-term home care services.

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted between September and November 2024. A translated version of validated scales of loneliness as well as sociodemographic and quality-of-life factors was administered to the homes of older (65 years or older) participants receiving home care services. The chi-square test was used to determine the dependence of the attributes. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r_s ) was used to assess the associations between variables.

Of the 111 participants, 56.8% did not feel lonely, and 43.2% reported feeling lonely. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between loneliness and gender, age, or educational level. However, there was a significant difference between loneliness and living situation (p = .003), restricted physical activity (p = .028), difficulty meeting daily needs (p = .005), and negative emotional well-being (p < .05).

The main and most common indicators of loneliness were living situation and quality of life. Taken together, the results highlight that loneliness is a multifaceted issue involving physical, social, and emotional factors. Addressing loneliness in older adults requires not only meeting physical needs but also providing meaningful social support within home-based services.