LONELINESS AMONG

THE SENIOR CITIZENS

A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE HYDERABAD
DISTRICT

2/15/2016

LONELINESS AMONG THE SENIOR CITIZENS

A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE HYDERABAD DISTRICT
 LONELINESS AMONG THE SENIOR CITIZENS
A STUDY ON THE HYDERABAD DISTRICT

Conducted by Darlene Moodley

2014-381
BA IIIrd year
Project was submitted under the partial fulfillment of
BA final year practical examination
Under the guidance of Mrs. Kavita
Department of sociology
Osmania University College for Women, Koti

2
 Hyderabad- 500095
OSMANIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
KOTI, HYDERABAD-500095

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY'

This is to certify that the project entitled “Loneliness among the senior
citizens, a sociological study on the Hyderabad district” is done by
Darlene Moodley bearing roll number: 2014-381, of VIth semester
during the academic year 2015-16.

Lecturer in Sociology
(Mrs. Kavita)
Signature of examiner
3
 Table of contents
Contents Page Number

Declaration 5

Acknowledgment 6

Abstract 7

Chapter 1(introduction) 8-11

Chapter 2 (review of
12-15
literature)

Chapter 3 (Methodology) 16

Chapter 4 (Results, Tabulation,

17-36
Analysis, Graph)

Chapter 5( report Writing and

37-38
conclusion)

Chapter 6( Bibliography) 39-41

4
 DECLARATION:

I, Darlene Moodley, student of Sociology, Osmania University College for

Women hereby declare that the project entitled “loneliness among the senior
citizens, a study on the Hyderabad district” submitted by me is a Bonafide work
done by me during VIth semester of Bachelor of Arts in sociology is my own work.

Signature of student
Date:

5
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I acknowledge with a deep sense of gratitude that this project would not have been
possible without the kind and generous support of my lecturer and mentor, Mrs.
Kavita from the department of sociology, OUCW, who helped and guided me
through various aspects of my project. I would also like to thank those who have
helped me both directly and indirectly during this time.

6
 ABSTRACT:

The present study is aimed at in finding out the level of loneliness among senior
women and men at the old age home and comparing whether women or men
experience greater level of loneliness. A sample of 60 senior women and men were
taken randomly and each was given a questionnaire which contained 30 questions
to help determine their level of loneliness.

Results revealed that there was a greater level of loneliness with the senior women
in the old age home rather than the senior men.

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 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Definition of loneliness
Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation or lack
of companionship. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack
of connectedness or communality with other beings, both in the present and extending
into the future. As such, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people.
The causes of loneliness are varied and include social, mental or emotional factors.
Loneliness is a universal human emotion, yet it is both complex and unique to each
individual. Loneliness has no single common cause, so the preventions and treatments
for this damaging state of mind vary dramatically. A lonely child who struggles to make
friends at his school has different needs that a lonely elderly man whose wife has
recently died. In order to understand loneliness, it is important to take a closer look at
exactly what we mean by the term "lonely" as well as the various causes, health
consequences, symptoms and potential treatments for loneliness.

Causes of loneliness among the aged

 Retirement: people might miss day-to-day contact with work colleagues, plus the
routine of getting ready and going out to work
 Bereavement: chronic loneliness can unfortunately set in after the loss of a
partner. Similar feelings of loneliness can arise if one relative moves to a care
home and the other is left alone at home.
 Lack of friends and companions: friends may have passed away, no longer live in
the same area or have restricted mobility that stops them from getting out and
about
 Poor physical health: ill health or loss of mobility can make it more difficult to
socialize.
 Location: your relative may not live near family and friends, particularly if they are
living in a residential care home where choices of location might be limited.
Modern life means that families are often more ‘geographically scattered’ – living
further apart due to jobs or family break ups.
 Lack of transport: your relative may no longer be able to drive for health reasons,
or no longer own a car. If they live in a rural area public transport might be
limited. Financial problems can also limit travel. Not being able to leave the
house as often as they'd like reduces opportunities for social contact and can
lead to feelings of social isolation.
 Financial difficulties: in addition to causing stress, financial problems can also
limit travel. Not being able to leave the house as often as they'd like reduces
opportunities for social contact and can lead to feelings of social isolation.
Sometimes loneliness can occur without any of the above reasons. It may alternatively
be caused by certain medical conditions, such as degenerative brain conditions

8
like Alzheimer’s or dementia. Depression can also be both a cause and a consequence
of loneliness.
Signs of Loneliness
Loneliness doesn’t appear overnight, which means it can sometimes be difficult to
recognise.  Over the years your parent may become more isolated by small degrees. 
Friends and relatives die or move away, mobility slowly starts to restrict activity and
sometimes problems such as incontinence, deafness and fear of falling over can mean
your parent spends more and more time stuck in their home.
When severe loss occurs, as with the death of a partner, we obviously become more
alert to the emotional impact of that bereavement, but as time moves on and your
parent begins to seem brighter than they were it’s easy to assume they have ‘got over it’
and adjusted to the change.  Very often, though, we mistake the absence of grief for
recovery.  In reality, the longer-term damage of isolation may be starting to take a grip.
Of course many elderly parents will speak openly about their loneliness, but sometimes
those who don’t are actually the ones suffering more, so what are some signs to look
for?
 Body language.  Does your parent’s posture suggest a ‘defeated demeanour’? 
Sometimes we can assume a lowered head or slumped posture is simply down
to old age, but it could be expressing the emotional impact of isolation.  Look also
for tightly crossed arms and legs.
 Highly talkative.  Someone who is lonely may well gush with chatter when they
have the opportunity, as if they are making the most of a chance to talk.
 Prolonged holding of your hand or arm.  Sometimes the lonely will try to cling on
to any opportunity for physical contact.
 Drab clothes.  We tend to think of clothes as a means of self-expression for the
young and fashionable, but the way we dress can reveal a lot in old age too.  If
your parent is dressing in dull clothes that make them merge into the background
it could be a sign of loneliness.
Remember that the number of people someone sees doesn’t define loneliness.  It’s the
quality of social contact which makes all the difference.  It’s an old truism that a bustling
city can be the loneliest place of all because if you have nothing more than passing
contact with others you can easily feel intensely lonely.  In fact, elderly people in rural
communities can often feel far less isolated because of the close community spirit and
interaction that still exists in many such places.
So, even if your parent has daily visits from, for instance, council careers, don’t assume
this means they won’t be lonely.  Such careers will have many people to see and
specific jobs to do; they often don’t have time for a proper chat and may even be
different people on different days.

Effects of loneliness among the aged

9
1. Feelings of loneliness can negatively affect both physical and mental health.
Regardless of the facts of a person’s isolation, seniors who feel lonely and isolated are
more likely to report also have poor physical and mental health.
2. Perceived loneliness contributes to cognitive decline and risk of dementia.
One frightening finding is that feelings of loneliness are linked to poor cognitive
performance and quicker cognitive decline; it can have physical and neurological
effects.
3. Social isolation makes seniors are vulnerable to elder abuse.
This is because isolated adults are more likely to fall victim to abuse.
4. Social isolation in seniors is linked to long-term illness.
Illnesses and conditions such as chronic lung disease, arthritis, impaired mobility,
and depression were associated with social isolation.
5. Loneliness in seniors is a major risk factor for depression.
Numerous studies over the past decade have shown that feeling loneliness is
associated with more depressive symptoms in both middle-aged and older adults.
One important first step is recognizing those feelings of loneliness, isolation and
depression and seeking treatment – whether it’s on your own behalf or for the sake of a
loved one.
6. Loneliness causes high blood pressure.
7. Socially isolated seniors are more pessimistic about the future.
Socially isolated seniors are more likely to predict their quality of life will get worse over
the following years to come.
8. Physical and geographic isolation often leads to social isolation.
This isolation can prevent them from receiving benefits and services that can improve
their economic security and their ability to live healthy, independent lives.
9. Loss of a spouse is a major risk factor for loneliness and isolation.
Losing a spouse, an event which becomes more common as people enter older and it
increases seniors’ vulnerability to emotional and social isolation.
10. Loneliness can be contagious.
Loneliness has a tendency to spread from person to person, due to negative social
interactions and other factors. In other words, when one person is lonely, that loneliness
is more likely to spread to friends or contacts of the lonely individual.
11. Lonely people are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior.
People who are socially isolated or lonely are also more likely to report risky health
behaviors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking.

Conquering loneliness
Conquering isolation and loneliness requires teamwork
Loneliness and isolation among the elderly is, first and foremost, a social issue that
must be closely monitored by our governments, the medical community, social workers,
organizations, etc. In addition, families should be closer to their elderly members and
pay attention to the signs indicating that a senior’s well-being might be deteriorating.
If an elderly member of your family or circle of friends seems to be isolating him or
herself, or seems to suffer from loneliness, here is some advice to help you remedy the
situation:

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  Visit the person as often as you can. If you have a busy schedule, make shorter
visits more often.
 Call the person regularly and encourage him or her to phone you. Make sure that
the person can easily reach you. Show interest in the topics that are on his or her
mind: day-to-day life, health, hobbies and problems.
 Also talk about subjects that interest you, even if you get the feeling that the
person doesn’t feel involved. Who knows, you might benefit from his or her
advice, and it will also give you the opportunity to make the person feel that he or
she matters.
 Encourage the person to stay active. Go for a walk together or tag along when
she or he runs errands.
When you visit, bring your children or those of family members. Senior citizens often
enjoy the company of young children, who represent a great source of joy and
entertainment. You can also bring a pet, if you have one, and if the elderly person
enjoys that. Animal therapy is a proven method to combat loneliness and isolation.
 Suggest adopting a pet. Offer your help in caring for the pet or for vet
appointments.
 Offer the person your help for personal care or housework. Styling someone’s
hair or helping her or him straighten or clean up the house can give you the
opportunity to chat and to build a better relationship.
 Invite the person for lunch or dinner at your house, ideally with the family. Lively
meals are also great opportunities to talk and to enjoy the good things in life.
 Encourage the person to join or sign up for various activities: bridge, bingo, arts
and crafts, and outings with a seniors’ club, dancing, etc. If necessary, drive him
or her, family can even take turns playing chauffeur.
 Technology can help senior isolation – but not always. Modern technology
provides more opportunities matching those interventions to the specific needs of
individual seniors.
 One simple strategy that does help: for seniors with hearing loss, simply
providing a hearing aid can improve communication and reduce loneliness.
Phone contact and Web-based support programs for some might provide a
lifeline.
 Volunteering can reduce social isolation and loneliness in seniors. It is well
known that volunteering is a rewarding activity, and seniors have a unique skill
set and oodles of life experience to contribute to their communities. It can also
boost longevity and contribute to mental health and well-being, and it ensures
that seniors have a source of social connection.

Combating loneliness means preventing exclusion, poverty, loss of autonomy, and

psychological or emotional distress. Everyone must do his or her part to contribute to
the well-being of our senior citizens and implement measures allowing them to conquer
loneliness and isolation. Our elderly members are a national and familial treasure, so it
is our duty to take care of them.
CHAPTER 2
Review of literature
11
1. Loneliness among senior citizens: An empirical report.
Perlman, Daniel; Gerson, Ann C.; Spinner, Barry
Essence: Issues in the Study of Ageing, Dying, and Death, Vol 2(4), 1978, 239-248.
Abstract
Reports an empirical study of loneliness among 158 senior citizens (average age 70
yrs) in Canada, each of whom completed a self-administered questionnaire. Greater
loneliness was associated with less friendship contact, fewer close friends, social
anxiety, ineffectiveness in influencing others, low marital satisfaction, and low life
satisfaction. Lonely respondents watched more TV, would have liked more planned
activities, and had difficulty getting transportation to places where they wanted to go.
Furthermore, loneliness was linked with poor hearing ability, poor health, and having a
lower income. Finally, being lonely was correlated with a variety of recently experienced
emotions (e.g., feeling restless, bored, and angry). (French summary) (14 ref)
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

2. Lonelness and depression in older men

Loneliness and social isolation, particularly in the older adult, have been shown to
influence psychosocial well-being. Loneliness has been related to chronic illness and
self-rated health in older adults, and researchers suggest there is an important
relationship between loneliness and psychological well-being in older adults particularly
in the area of depression. This study investigated relationships between loneliness,
health, and depression in 217 older men (≥ 65 years). Participants completed self-report
measures of loneliness, social support, depression, and physical health. Regression
analysis showed that a diagnosis of illness or disability was unrelated to depression,
however self-reported health was associated with depression, with those reporting
poorer health experiencing greater depression. Social support variables were unrelated
to depression. The most significant relationship to depression was that of loneliness,
with lonelier men reporting higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
Although research suggests that depression is often a response to declining health and
functional impairment in the older adult, the present findings suggest that social isolation
may also influence the experience of depression. Age-related losses such as loss of
professional identity, physical mobility and the inevitable loss of family and friends can
affect a person's ability to maintain relationships and independence, which in turn may
lead to a higher incidence of depressive symptoms.

3. Loneliness, and Emotional Well-Being among the Elderly

Gary R. Lee
Washington State University
Masako Ishii-Kuntz
Abstract
This study examines the effects of interaction with different types of role partners on the
emotional well-being (morale) of older persons, and the extent to which these effects
are mediated by subjective feelings of social integration (loneliness). Hypotheses
regarding the differential effects of friendship and kinship on these emotional states are
developed and tested on a sample of 2872 respondents aged 55 and over. Consistent

12
with the hypotheses, loneliness has a major negative effect on morale, and transmits
large proportions of the effects of social integration measures. Feelings of loneliness are
reduced, and morale increased, by interaction with friends and, to a lesser extent,
neighbors. Interaction with children and grandchildren has no such effects.

4.Niina Savikko, loneliness of older people and elements of an intervention for its
alleviation Department
Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Annales Universitatis
Turkuensis D 808, Painosalama Oy, Turku, 2008
Abstract
Loneliness is common among older people and nurses have limited means to alleviate
it. The study was in two parts. In phase I, the aim was to acquire information on the
concept of loneliness, its relationship with social isolation and a global feeling of
insecurity, and to acquire information on the prevalence of community-dwelling older
people’s (≥75 years) loneliness, its associated characteristics and subjective causes. In
phase II, the aim was to identify the essential elements of the psychosocial group
rehabilitation (PGR) intervention which was developed to alleviate older people’s
loneliness and to describe the experiences of the PGR participants. The data in phase I
were gathered using a postal questionnaire sent to a random sample (N=6 786) of older
people in various parts of Finland. The number of returned questionnaires was 4 113,
and the response rate for community-dwelling older people was 72%. The respondents’
mean age was 81 years and 69% were women. The data in phase II consisted of the
diaries written by the PGR intervention group leaders (N=14), researchers free
observation notes (N=32) on the group activity, and a feedback questionnaire filled in by
participants (N=103) after the PGR intervention. The findings showed that there was a
distinction between loneliness, social isolation and a global feeling of insecurity. Of the
respondents, 39% suffered from loneliness at least sometimes. Several demographic
and health-related factors, dimensions of psychological well-being, as well as
expectations related to social contacts were associated with loneliness. Losing one’s
parents in childhood was not associated with loneliness experienced in old age. Several
causes of loneliness were mentioned. Several elements were considered essential in
the PGR intervention aimed at alleviating the loneliness of older people. These
elements were divided into a) predetermined elements, b) favorable processes between
and within the participants, and c) mediating factors. The predetermined elements were
further divided into the factors related to the group participants, group leaders, and
group activities. The PGR intervention participants found the groups very meaningful,
with 95% feeling that their loneliness was alleviated during the PGR intervention.
Recognizing the loneliness of older people poses a challenge for nurses. The detailed
description of the PGR intervention helps nurses to identify the elements that may
alleviate older people’s loneliness. Keywords: loneliness, older people, psychosocial
group rehabilitation intervention, psychological well-being, social isolation, global feeling
of insecurities.

5. Loneliness, depression and sociability in old age

Abstract

13
Background:
The elderly population is large in general and growing due to advancement of health
care education. These people are faced with numerous physical, psychological and
social role changes that challenge their sense of self and capacity to live happily. Many
people experience loneliness and depression in old age, either as a result of living alone
or due to lack of close family ties and reduced connections with their culture of origin,
which results in an inability to actively participate in the community activities. With
advancing age, it is inevitable that people lose connection with their friendship networks
and that they find it more difficult to initiate new friendships and to belong to new
networks. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationships among
depression, loneliness and sociability in elderly people.
Materials and Methods:
This study was carried out on 55 elderly people (both men and women). The tools used
were Beck Depression Inventory, UCLA Loneliness Scale and Sociability Scale by
Eysenck.
Results:
Results revealed a significant relationship between depression and loneliness.
Conclusion:
Most of the elderly people were found to be average in the dimension of sociability and
preferred remaining engaged in social interactions. .

6. Loneliness among elderly women

Bhawana Singh, 2U. V. Kiran 12Department of Human Development & Family Studies,
School for Home Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambdkar University (A Central
University) Lucknow, India
Abstract:
Loneliness was found to be a problem for a significant portion of the population,
reported more in the women with the exception of older unmarried men. Studies which
examine the relationship between loneliness, depression, alcoholism, child abuse, and
bereavement are discussed. Studies of the relationship of loneliness with other
psychiatric disorders are lacking. There are data relating loneliness to physical disease
and possible mechanisms for this relationship are reviewed. The loss of a spouse in
elderly women is the most disorganizing life event they can ever with stand. The
purpose of the present study is to understand the concept of loneliness among elderly
women by reviewing the popular theories proposed by the researches. It also aims at
examining the relationship of loneliness with their quality of life and other demographic
issues through review of related researches. Findings revealed that loneliness is a
particularly relevant issue in relation to elderly widows, whose rates of mortality illness
and depression exceed those of their married counterparts, every woman who loses a
husband through death experiences a painful period of bereavement, often
accompanied by severe loneliness, obsessive thoughts of the deceased, restlessness,
insomnia, somatic complaints, and even hallucinations of the deceased, and poor
mental wellbeing. Older women report more loneliness than male peers. Loneliness is
an area of concern related to the well being of older women because it is a cause of
emotional distress and is linked to a variety of health problems in older individuals. Life

14
changes, including widowhood and relocation, are associated with increased
vulnerability to loneliness. Gender, social, and cultural factors influence the experience
of loneliness in older women. Cognitive and integrationist theoretical approaches to
loneliness have utility for nursing practice and research with older women who
experience loneliness. However with structured interventions widows may be able to
eventually recover from the loss and stand on their feet again. Keyword: Depression,
elderly, loneliness, psychiatric disorder, widowhood.

CHAPTER 3
Methodology

15
Objective of the study:
1. The objective of this study is to measure the level of loneliness among senior women and
men.

2. To determine the effect of loneliness among senior women and men.

3. To determine what are the factors that can reduce loneliness in senior citizens.

4. To determine what are the most common factors of loneliness.

Hypothesis:
1. Senior women undergo higher level of loneliness than senior men.

2. Family is a major contributing factor in controlling loneliness.

3. Illnesses are caused more due to social isolation in the seniors.

Sampling technique:
The sampling technique used in this study is simple random sampling where samples were
chosen from old age homes in which 30 questionnaires were given to senior women and the
other 30 questionnaires were given to senior men. Each questionnaire consisted of 30
questions each.

Procedure:
This particular study was done in the form of a questionnaire and was given to senior men and
women who were asked to place a tick mark to the closed ended questions which they felt
suited them best and to answer the open ended questions from their own view. The
interviewer filled out the questionnaires for those who were unable to.

CHAPTER 4
Results, Tabulation, Analysis and Graph

16
1.Age composition

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 50-60 15 25

2 60-70 30 50

3 70-above 15 25

Total 60 100

The age of the samples were taken from 50 and above. According to the
table 50% of the respondents are in the age group of 60-70 while 25% of
the respondents are in the age group of 50-60 and the remaining 25% are
in the age group of 70-above.

AGE

1
2
3

2.Duration spent in old age home

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 5 years and 20 30
less

2 5 years and 40 70
more

Total 60 100

The duration spent by the seniors showed to be more than 5 years for most
seniors with a high of 70% and less than 5 years showed a percentage of
30% indicating that most seniors are admitted from their beginning years of
being senior.

17
 DURATION SPENT

1
2

3.Person to hold responsible for your admission

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 family 55 92

2 yourself 5 8

Total 60 100

The results for the person to be held responsible for the admission of the
senior citizens in the old age home shows to be strongly the family with a
92% result while only a 8% result for self admission. This indicates that
family is the prime cause for the senior citizens being in old age homes.

PERSON TO HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR AD-

MISSION

1
2

4.Reason for admission

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

18
 respondents

1 Illness 24 40

2 Nobody to take 36 60
care

Total 60 100

In relation to the reason of admission¸ 40% of the sample indicated that it is

due to illness while the majority which was found to be 60% showed it is
due nobody being able to care for them. This means that family does not
want to finance their elder members so that is the reason why they are
being admitted.

REASON FOR ADMISSION

1
2

5. Comfort of the seniors

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 18 30

2 No 42 70

Total 60 100

The results for the comfort levels of the seniors in the old age home
showed 30% of the samples being comfortable and 70% of the samples
not comfortable. This indicates that majority of the senior citizens are not
happy living in an old age home.

19
 COMFORT

1
2

6. Ability to get along with other senior citizens

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 18 30

2 No 12 20

3 sometimes 30 50

Total 60 100

In regards to getting along with other senior citizens, 30% gets along
well,20% is notable to adapt with others while the remaining are sometimes
able to get along and other times to themselves . This shows that majority
of senior citizens are lost in their own thoughts majority of the time.

ABILITY TO GET ALONG

1 2

20
7. Ability to bond with other senior citizens

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 12 20

2 No 48 80

Total 60 100

Only 20% of the samples are able to bond with other seniors in the old age
home while 80% which is the majority is unable to form bonds with the
other members in the old age home this shows the reluctance they have to
actually be able to form bonds again.

ABILITY TO BOND WITH OTHER SENIORS

1
2

8. Miss being with family.

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 40 67

2 No 11 18

3 Sometimes 9 15

Total 30 100

When it comes to whether or not the seniors miss their family, the majority
of the samples which shows a 67% indicate that they miss their family
while 18% indicate that they do not miss their family and the remaining
21
15% indicates that they miss their family sometimes. Even though 18% of
the samples indicated that they do not miss their family, they are saying it
because of their ego that they don’t want to accept the truth of the
situation.

MISS FAMILY

1
2
3

9. Person you long for the most

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 spouse 10 17

2 children 20 33

3 grandchildren 30 50

Total 60 100

The above results indicate that the person the seniors long for the most are
the grandchildren with a high of 50% while the remaining 50% is scattered
among the spouses with a 17% and the children with a 33%. With this note
we can clearly see how attached the seniors are to their grandchildren and
children more than to their spouses.

PERSON YOU LONG FOR THE MOST

1
2
3

22
10. Visits from family

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 30 50

2 No 30 50

Total 60 100

The above table indicates that 33% of the senior citizens get visits from
their family while the majority of the seniors which shows to be 67% are
deprived of family totally. This gives a greater reason as to why the seniors
are lonely.

VISITS FROM FAMILY

1
2

11. Period of time that family comes to visit

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 weekly 10 17

2 monthly 20 33

3 Not at all 30 50

Total 60 100

The results above show how often family visits the senior citizens. 17% of
the samples indicate that family visits them once a week while 33%
indicates that family visits them once monthly and the remaining 50%
indicates that family does not visit at all. With this we can deduce that

23
majority of family has lost contact with the seniors once they place them in
the old age home.

PERIOD OF VISITS WITH SENIORS BY FAMILY

1
2
3

12. Time spent with seniors during visits

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 1 hour and less 40 67

2 1 hour and 20 43
more

Total 60 100

According the results majority of the samples which is 67% indicate that
the family spends less than one hour during the visits while 43% of the
samples indicate that family spends more than one hour with them during
visits. This indicates that majority of the family does not really spending
quality time with the seniors during the rare visits.

TIME SPENT WITH SENIORS DURING VISITS

1
2

24
13. Senior citizens pondering over past events in their life

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 60 100

2 No 0 0

Total 60 100

According to the above table 100% of the senior citizens ponder over past
events in their life. This is a very high indicator that they are experiencing
loneliness and have too much of time to spend pondering over past events.

SENIOR CITIZENS PONDERING OVER PAST

EVENTS

1
2

14. Regret felt by senior citizens

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Not insuring 20 33
their future

2 Not achieving 15 25
their goals

3 No regrets 25 42

Total 30 100

According to the above results 33% of the senior citizens indicated that
they regret not insuring their future in terms of property and money while
25
25% of the senior citizens indicate that they regret not achieving all their
goals while the remaining 42% indicated that they have no regret. With this
we can conclude that all the senior citizens have different views about their
life where some regret and some do not.

REGRET FELT BY SENIOR CITIZENS

1
2
3

15. Feeling of being content with what you have achieved

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 25 42

2 No 35 58

Total 60 100

50% of the samples indicated that they feel content with what they
achieved in their life while 50% of the samples indicated that they are not
contented with what they achieved thus far. This indicates that the seniors
are not completely satisfied with their lives and want to further achieve.

FEELING OF CONTENT

1
2

26
 16. Grading of old age home in terms of care giving.

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 A 15 25

2 B 45 75

3 C 0 0

Total 60 100

In terms of care giving the 25%samples indicated that the old age home is
off “A” grade while 75% of the samples indicated it’s of “B” grade. This
indicates that the old age homes are offering good services to the senior
citizens.

GRADING OF OLD AGE HOME

1
2
3

27
17. Participation in activities

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 43 72

2 No 17 28

Total 60 100

According to above results 72% of the samples indicate that they

participate sometimes in activities set out by the old age home while 28 of
the samples don’t participate at all due to illness and also no interest in the
activities.

PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES

1
2

18. Personality of the senior citizen.

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Alone 10 17

2 Company 50 83

Total 60 100

The above results indicate that only 10% of the senior citizens are
introverts wherelse the majority of the senior citizens want to be with
company and not lonely. This shows the eagerness they have to share
28
their thoughts and feeling with others especially their loved ones.

PERSONALITY OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN

1
2

19. Feeling of missing communication with others

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 45 75

2 Never 0 0

3 All the time 15 25

Total 60 100

According to the above results it shows that 45% of the senior citizens feel
that they don’t have anybody to talk to sometimes while 15% of the seniors
indicate that they feel this way all the time. With the above results we can
deduce that all the senior citizens feel deprived of communication in their
life.

MISSING COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS

1
2
3

29
20. Feeling of unhappiness doing things alone

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 45 75

2 Never 0 0

3 All the time 15 15

Total 60 100

The above results clearly indicate that 75% of the senior citizens feel lonely
doing things by themselves sometimes where else 15% of them clearly feel
that they are unhappy all the time doing things alone. This shows that the
senior citizens feel unhappiness doing things by themselves and need
company to feel happiness.

FEELING OF UNHAPPINESS DOING THINGS

ALONE

1
2
3

21. Intolerance levels of being alone

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 31 52

2 Never 14 23

3 All the time 15 25

Total 60 100

52% of the samples indicate that they sometimes feel that they can’t
30
tolerate being alone while 23% of the samples feel that they can tolerate
being alone and 25% of the samples indicate that they feel they can’t
tolerate being alone all the time.

INTOLERANCE LEVELS OF BEING ALONE

1
2
3

22. Feelings of others not understanding you

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 45 75

2 Never 15 25

3 All the time 0 0

Total 60 100

According to the above table 75% of the senior citizens feel that others
don’t really understand their feeling sometimes while 25% of the senior
citizens feel that others do understand their feelings. This indicates that
majority of the senior citizens feel that they are not able to share their
feelings because others really don’t understand them.

FEELING OF OTHERS NOT UNDERSTANDING

YOU

1
2
3

31
23. Awaiting family to call or write to you

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Yes 45 75

2 No 15 25

Total 60 100

According to the above results 75% of the respondents indicate that they
await a call or letter from their loved ones where else 25% of the
respondents indicate that they do not. This shows the amount of love they
have for their family that they eagerly await their calls and letters.

AWAITING FOR PEOPLE TO CALL OR WRITE

1
2

24. Feeling of being completely alone

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 30 50

2 Never 10 17

3 All the time 20 33

Total 60 100

According to the above table 50% of the respondents feel that they are
sometimes completely alone while 17% of the respondents feel that they
are never alone and 33% of the respondents feel that they are completely
alone all the time. From this we can deduce that even though the senior

32
citizens are in the company of each other they still tend to feel lonely
because they are not with their loved ones.

FEELING OF BEING COMPLETELY ALONE

1
2
3

25. Ability to reach out and communicate with others

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Sometimes 40 67

2 Never 15 25

3 All the time 5 8

Total 60 100

67% of the respondents feel that they sometimes can reach out and
communicate with others while 25% of the respondents feel that they
cannot reach out to others and the remaining 8% feel that they can reach
out to others all the time. This indicates that the seniors have a great ability
to communicate with others if given the chance.

ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS

1
2
3

26. Starved of company

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

33
 respondents

1 sometimes 45 75

2 Never 0 0

3 All the time 15 25

Total 60 100

The feeling of being starved off company is one of the major factors of
loneliness. According to the above results 75% of the respondents indicate
that they sometimes feel starved off company while 25% of the
respondents indicate that they feel starved of company all the time. This
clearly shows with a 0% of respondents showing never not feeling starved
off company that senior citizens really are hungry for company from their
loved ones.

STARVED OFF COMPANY

1
2
3

27. Solutions to combat loneliness

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 More time from 40 67

loved ones

2 More 5 8
involvement in
activities

3 Learning 15 25
technology

Total 60 100

34
There are many ways to deal with loneliness and the most common
responses of how to combat loneliness are given in the table above. 67%
of the senior citizens feel that family should give more time to them while
8% of the respondents feel that they should be involved in more activities
to keep themselves occupied and not feel lonely and surprisingly 15% of
senior citizens feel that if they learn about social networking then they
won’t feel lonely and also be able to keep up with the modern generation.

WAYS TO COMBAT LONELINESS

1
2
3

28. Advice from the senior citizens to the next generation

s. no Response No. of Percentage %

respondents

1 Make sure you 30 50

insure your
future

2 Strive and fulfill 15 25

your goals

3 Learn 15 25
technology

Total 60 100

The advice given to the future generation by majority the seniors which is
50% are that they should make sure they insure their future so that they
will have enough finance to take care of themselves in their old age. 25%
of the respondents advised that the future generation should strive to fulfill
all their goals while the remaining 25% advised that technology
advancements are crucial to combat loneliness so technology should be
learned. The advice given by the senior citizens clearly shows what they
would have wished they done before they ended up in the old age home
and feel that if the future generation practices the advice given, they will
surely not fall prey to the disease of loneliness.
35
 ADVICE GIVEN TO THE FUTURE GENERATION

1
2
3

With the above analysis and results it proves that the hypotheses are
correct and that women actually do encounter a lot more feelings of
loneliness than men in the old age home. It also proves that family is one
of the major reasons for loneliness felt by senior citizens. Due to loneliness
the senior citizens undergo depression and becomes ill sometimes illness
of the senior citizens is caused due to loneliness as a primary factor

36
 Chapter 5
Report Writing and conclusion
Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to
isolation or lack of companionship. Loneliness typically includes anxious
feelings about a lack of connectedness or communality with other beings,
both in the present and extending into the future.

The number of older people is increasing throughout the world. As

individuals grow older, they are faced with numerous physical,
psychological and social role changes that challenge their sense of self
and capacity to live happily. Loneliness is considered to be the major
problems leading to impaired quality of life among elderly persons.

The rate of loneliness amongst the aged is also increasing day by day due
to the neglect by the children to their parents for their own reasons which I
personally feel is just placing their burden in a home for no exact reason
without realizing the detrimental effect that this is having on the aged
citizens.

According to the results Loneliness tends to be a more pressing problem in

women. This is more because they are so used to always being busy with
running their houses and taking care of the family that when placed in an
old age home, they are deprived of their space and have no motherly
duties which makes then fall prey to depression.

In this study I have realized that even though an old age home has many
senior citizens, the seniors do not find comfort amongst themselves even if
they are surrounded by people, the seniors are feeling disoriented, out of
touch, and alone, there is generally no real connection between the
seniors. The elderly end up feeling like they have been shunted to the side,
with nobody left who truly cares about them.

In my opinion aging is inevitable but loneliness can be combated. Aging

represents the closing period in the lifespan, a time when the individual
looks back on life, lives on past accomplishments and begins to finish off
his life course. The finishing stage in the seniors life is meant to be the
most happiest years and to make this possible one can try to adjust the
senior citizen rather than the family that have placed them in the aged
home.

37
Adjusting to the changes that accompany old age requires that an
individual is flexible and develops new coping skills to adapt to the changes
that are common to this time in their lives.

The first and foremost step to combat loneliness would be to socially start
interacting and participating In activities set out by the old age home.
Seniors can then be mentored on how to use technology which will benefit
them greatly because they can socially interact with family by using social
networks like watsapp and Skype. In this way they would find happiness in
themselves.

In this way the senior citizens can combat the deadly disease of loneliness
and be actively happy and positive in their golden years.

CHAPTER 6
38
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