New book on the subject of "Loneliness and social isolation in old age"Extensive publication by Prof. Dr. André Hajek, Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmut König and Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller published
26 October 2023, by Hannes Rathjen
Photo: Routledge
Loneliness is also referred to as "the new smoking" among experts. In the 21st century, the world's aging population is growing faster than ever before. This drives the international research agenda to help older people live longer and find the causes and cures for chronic diseases such as dementia. Loneliness and social isolation have long been among the most important determinants of an overall lower quality of life, impair mental and physical health and lead to secondary illnesses – a fact that has long been recognized in medicine. Prof. Dr. André Hajek, Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmut König and Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller in their new book "Loneliness and social isolation in old age" provide a comprehensive overview of the important connections between socioeconomic, health and lifestyle factors and loneliness and social isolation in old age. It highlights the importance of looking at the factors associated with loneliness and social isolation in older adults from a broader perspective, covering a range of topics such as income poverty, physical activity, family care and frailty. The chapters are evidence-based and offer a mix of empirical studies and reviews of international research. The publication is aimed at researchers and doctoral students in the fields of mental health, social work and psychiatry as well as health professionals in the fields of gerontology and geriatrics. The book has 230 pages, is published by Routledge in London and also available in open access thanks to a grant from the Saxon university libraries.