Ensam i en gemenskap - Äldres upplevelser av ensamhet

Sammanfattning: Our aim with this study was to examine older people's experiences of loneliness. Specifically, we investigated how loneliness affects the elderly, how it is expressed, and what its sources are. The study was conducted using a qualitative method, by interviewing four caregivers at two nursing homes, and three social workers who work as care administrators for nursing homes. We found that the experience of loneliness is prevalent among the elderly who live in nursing homes. Furthermore, we identified two outstanding themes in their experiences, which we categorised as experiences of loneliness and feelings of being safe. Feelings of being safe had two subthemes; moving to a nursing home and the living situation. Feelings of being unsafe were closely related to loneliness, and this was partially a reason why the elderly wanted to move to a nursing home, as a way to get closer to other people and overcome loneliness. Experiences of loneliness varied in the following subthemes; suffering of existential loneliness, extent of social relationships, social networks, and social life, expressions of loneliness, and the meaning of loneliness. We found different forms of loneliness, including loneliness based on loss of relationships, mostly due to the passing away of one’s social group, which was expressed partially as an experience of existential loneliness. The elderly people’s network of friends and family varied; some of them had a close network with many visitors every day, and others had almost none that visited them.