Social isolation.

The article reports that most research on social exclusion in later life has focused on the most isolated and lonely individuals, which perhaps accepts too readily that the normal experience of old age is social neglect, isolation and reliance on fragile social networks. Loneliness is difficult to define, but is essentially the emotional response to the difference between desired and available relationships. It is not necessarily the same as being alone, living alone or being socially isolated. One important aspect of loneliness and isolation has been the identification of a set of classic risk factors. However, there has been little examination of the factors that may protect against loneliness in later life.