Study Finds Lonely Older Adults May Live Longer Than Non-Lonely Peers

A recent study involving nearly 400,000 older adults in Canada, Finland, and New Zealand has revealed surprising results. Contrary to common belief, lonely older adults who receive home care assistance were found to have a lower risk of death within a year compared to their non-lonely counterparts. Researchers, led by Dr. Bonaventure Egbujie from the University of Waterloo, analyzed mortality data and found lonely participants had an 18% to 23% lower risk of dying. The study challenges previous assumptions about the link between loneliness and mortality, suggesting that declining health may lead to loneliness rather than the other way around. Healthcare providers are urged to address loneliness as a serious quality-of-life issue. (Studyfinds)