Subjective loneliness--a comparison between elderly and relatives.

The survey was aimed at examining the differences between the elderly's subjectively experienced loneliness and relatives' appraisal of the situation. The interviews contained structured questions about relatives' knowledge of the elderly's loneliness and their social contacts with the elderly. In total, 178 relatives took part in the interviews. The Cognitive-impaired group included 66 pairs elderly/relatives, where the elderly persons were cognitively impaired, and the Cognitive-intact group 112 pairs, where the elderly persons had normal cognitive function. There were differences between relatives' appraisal of loneliness and the elderly's own experience. The elderly with cognitive deficits seemed to feel loneliness more often than persons with intact cognitive ability. Relatives tended to overestimate the elderly's loneliness, especially among persons with cognitive difficulties. These elderly more often had short frequent visits, while persons in the Cognitive-intact group had longer, but not so frequent visits.