The loneliness in the elderly

Introduction: Loneliness is the lack of company, implies the lack of contact with other people. Due to scientific advances in the health field, the average age has increased and care in the elderly is increasingly important to avoid loneliness and the problems it can cause in their health. Objectives: To analyze the process of assessing the situation of loneliness in the elderly population by health professionals and describe those nursing interventions that contribute to the improvement in this situation. Material and methods: Bibliographic review in the main scientific databases of articles in English and Spanish in the last five years. The PICO question has been raised about the care of the elderly and loneliness. The number of articles consulted has been 21. In addition, the SACYL service portfolio and the NNN Consult search engine have been reviewed. Results: The use of different scales, OARS, UCLA, Gijón or Philadelphia, together with needs assessment models, allow early detection of loneliness in the elderly and therefore carry out prevention activities. The NIC Nurse Intervention Classification includes nursing interventions in line with NANDA Nurses Diagnoses appropriate to the results we expect to obtain from loneliness in the elderly. Conclusions: The health personnel is key in the detection of loneliness in the elderly through the use of the different means that the health system makes available to them. Detecting it early avoids other health problems that occur because of it.