ADL capacity and loneliness among elderly persons with cognitive impairment

Abstract

Advancing age brings a natural weakening of functions, making the individual rely more on support from the community and next-of-kin. The purpose of this study was to investigate, in relation to subjective loneliness, the AOL dependence of elderly persons with and without impaired cognitive capacity. 264 persons were interviewed. The Mini-Mental State Examination was used as a screening instrument for obtaíning a cognitivdy-unpaired and a normal group of elderly. Persons with impaired cognitive capacity who experienced loneliness had the greatest ADL dependence. © 1993 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.