Higher mortality risk for lonely elderly

Older persons who live alone are 1.7 times more likely to die earlier, compared to their contemporaries who reside with others. Associate Professor Ng Tze Pin from NUS Psychological Medicine, who conducted a longitudinal ageing study under the Gerontology Research Programme, also found that men who live alone were 2.8 times as likely to die prematurely compared with men who live with others. The findings also revealed that the mortality rate for this group was 1.2 times higher than that of women.

The data collected from 2,553 participants between 2003 and 2011, indicate that although this elderly group did not have more chronic diseases, their illnesses may be more severe due to poor treatment and follow-up care.  

Eighty per cent of the men living alone were divorced or widowed, with the majority of them living in one or two-room flats and have low income. They require more psychological help as they tend to be socially deprived or isolated. “This was in part due to the lack or loss of a spouse, especially among men,” explained Assoc Prof Ng.

He also highlighted that the findings imply that there is room for improvement on the quality of social services and medical care for this elderly group.

For instance, more could be done to improve the co-ordination and effectiveness of social care and health services for them, especially so as they face social isolation and poor access to health care. This group also faces a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or pre-dementia.

The elderly who live alone are not a homogenous group as some older people who choose to live alone are healthy and independent.  

Singapore is the second country in Asia, after Japan, to conduct such studies which have already been done among Western populations. The ongoing research programme is funded by A*STAR Biomedical Research Council and the Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council, with the support of Voluntary Welfare Organisations such as Geylang East Home for the Aged and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society.