Loneliness among older people - research analyses, Georgia 2021

Based on the data of 2014 general population census, the share of the older persons - ages 65 and above - in the total population of Georgia was 14.3% (the percentage corresponds to 530,000 persons). The population aged 65 and above is the only age group the number of which has increased since the 1989 census (478,000 persons in 1989). The number of members of this group has not decreased since the population census conducted in 2002 (in the period of the census, the number totalled to 529,000 persons). If we consider the facts that life expectancy has increased, the number of the population has decreased by almost one third in Georgia, and the share of older people (65+) in the population emigrating from the country has been insignificant over the last thirty years, the trend in aging of the population can be seen as real.

The problem of loneliness is further aggravated among older persons (aged 65 and above) and is even more evident against the background of aging of the world’s population. In its turn, loneliness becomes a risk factor due to a number of deviations, such as: deteriorating physical health, mental disorders (stress, depression and other mental disorders), mortality (including suicide), etc. As researchers point out (Gierueld, Tilburg, Dykstra, 2006), greater insight into loneliness will be gained by bringing together individual level characteristics and contextual characteristics.

Examples of the latterare sociocultural factors and sociostructural characteristics of the individual’s environment. Robert Weiss defines loneliness as perceived social isolation, described as a stressful, chronic illness

without any compensatory qualities3. Weiss distinguishes between social loneliness and emotional loneliness: social loneliness is related to the absence of acceptable social ties/networks comprised of a wide circle of family and friends. This network provides a sense of belonging and solidarity and helps overcome isolation. As for emotional loneliness, it refers to the absence of other persons in a person’s life with whom he/she fully shares feelings.