Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charlotte Salmon, Amelie Quesnel-Vallee, Marie-Elise Parent
Summary: Social isolation is associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. This study found that single men had a higher risk of high-grade prostate cancer, while having at least one daughter was associated with a lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The number of people living with the subject was inversely related to prostate cancer risk. Further research is needed to confirm these novel findings.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Eun Jeong Hwang, In Ok Sim
Summary: The study in Korea examined the levels of happiness among older adults living alone, with their spouse, or with their family. The results showed that happiness index varied significantly among the three groups, with the frequency of contact with family influencing the happiness of older adults living alone and with their family. Older adults living with their spouse, on the other hand, experienced increased happiness with higher contact with friends.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Nisha Dhanda, Helen Pryce
Summary: This study used ethnography methodology to explore the mechanisms of social isolation in older adults with dementia and hearing loss. After a planning and engagement phase in four care homes, an environmental audit, observations, and interviews were conducted. Grounded Theory methods were used to analyze the generated data.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yanwei Lin, Qi Zhang, Tingxian Wang, Zhirong Zeng
Summary: This study examines the impact of living arrangement as a social contextual factor on the cognitive function of Chinese elders. The findings suggest that elderly individuals living in institutions are more vulnerable to cognitive decline, while living alone does not necessarily pose a risk for cognitive decline. Living with household members does not provide significant benefits for supporting cognitive function.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
C. Speckemeier, A. Niemann, M. Weitzel, C. Abels, K. Hoefer, A. Walendzik, J. Wasem, S. Neusser
Summary: Alternative forms of housing have been developed to provide care for individuals with dementia. This systematic review analyzes these innovative housing concepts and their effects on residents' quality of life, behavior, cognition, and emotions. While some studies suggest positive effects, others show increased behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in residents living in these settings.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Robert W. Smith, Isobel Barnes, Jane Green, Gillian K. Reeves, Valerie Beral, Sarah Floud
Summary: The study found that social isolation has little direct effect on the risk of developing a first coronary heart disease or stroke event. However, social isolation substantially increases the risk that the first event is fatal before reaching the hospital, particularly among people who live alone.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jon Barrenetxea, Yi Yang, An Pan, Qiushi Feng, Woon-Puay Koh
Summary: Although living alone is associated with social disconnection, the majority of socially disconnected older adults actually live with family members. Social disconnection is independently associated with lower education level, cognitive impairment, fair/poor self-rated health, instrumental limitations, and depression. Men living alone are more likely to experience social disconnection than women.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tengku Aizan Hamid, Hazwan Mat Din, Mohamad Fazdillah Bagat, Rahimah Ibrahim
Summary: The study found that living arrangements are not always a risk factor for the mental health status of older adults. However, it may be confounded by the level of their social networks. The results suggested that the effects of social network may exceed the impact of living arrangements.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Social Work
Paul Daniel Shuttleworth
Summary: This article examines the importance of children's perspectives and recognition in kinship care. Recognition and specific measures are needed to support kinship care, address inherent risks and fractured family relationships. A shift towards more dialogical approaches is necessary to provide ethical and meaningful support, policy, and legislation.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Amanda Clery, Finbarr C. Martin, Patrick Redmond, Iain Marshall, Christopher McKevitt, Catherine Sackley, Jill Manthorpe, Charles Wolfe, Yanzhong Wang
Summary: Over the 20-year period, survival rates improved for stroke survivors discharged to their own home, but remained unchanged for those discharged to care homes. Care home residents had lower levels of rehabilitation received, indicating a gap in care and a need for improvement in care levels.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Elizabeth L. Tung, Emilia H. De Marchis, Laura M. Gottlieb, Stacy Tessler Lindau, Matthew S. Pantell
Summary: This study found that few patients reported being screened for social isolation in primary care settings, despite low levels of discomfort with screening. Discomfort with and participation in prior screening for social isolation were not associated with social isolation levels, but patients desiring assistance with social isolation tended to have higher levels of social isolation and poorer health status. Providers should consider expanding social isolation screening and referral practices, especially among patients who express interest in assistance with social isolation.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Mara Brouwers, Damien S. E. Broekharst, Bram de Boer, Wim G. Groen, Hilde Verbeek
Summary: This review provides an overview of innovative living arrangements for older adults and describes their defining characteristics. The study identified seven types of distinct innovative living arrangements, with an emphasis on supporting autonomy and creating a small-scale and/or homelike environment in most arrangements.
Article
Pediatrics
Anders Hjern, Malin Bergstrom, Stine Kjaer Urhoj, Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen
Summary: This study found that socioeconomic conditions, parents' psychiatric disorders, and family relationships in infancy can predict parental separation. For children with separated parents, family income level and parental education level are the main factors determining whether they will live in joint physical custody.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mengmeng Yan, Yingying Liu
Summary: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of BMI categories between individuals living alone (LA) and those not living alone (NLA). The results showed that LA had lower prevalence of obesity compared to NLA, especially in the 45-64 age group. Additionally, LA had lower prevalence of overweight, particularly in the 18-34 and >64 age groups.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Chun-Chang Lee, Ruo-Yu Huang, Yun-Ling Wu, Wen-Chih Yeh, Hung-Chung Chang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of living arrangements and social capital on the subjective well-being of the elderly, as well as the mutual effects and relationships between well-being and self-rated health status. A total of 369 questionnaires were distributed, and the effective recovery rate was 98.10%. The results suggest that factors such as the current location for aging in place, social support, social activities, house ownership, and self-rated health status significantly affect the well-being of the elderly.