Dr Ken Ho has dedicated his research to understanding loneliness among older adults, with a vision of enhancing their wellbeing and quality of life.
“Studies have revealed alarming statistics regarding the prevalence and impact of loneliness among older adult,” says Dr Ho.
“Loneliness has been linked to a significant increase in mortality and has been identified as a risk factor for the development of a range of health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and depression.”
Despite these findings, the nature of loneliness and its mechanisms are not well understood.
“Understanding the unique characteristics of loneliness is crucial if we are to develop effective interventions to address it, both in aged care facilities and in communities,” says Dr Ho.
Dr Ho’s research has highlighted the importance of purpose and meaning when it comes to the lived experience of loneliness among older adults.
“Our current understanding of loneliness primarily focuses on social and emotional loneliness, but my work has moved beyond this to include existential loneliness, which is particularly relevant to older adults,” he says.
“While promoting social connection and participation is important, findings from my research show that co-creating or restoring an older person’s life purpose can significantly reduce their sense of loneliness.”
“Interventions should not only facilitate social interaction but also help older adults find meaning and purpose in their lives, especially during times of adversity.”
Dr Ho’s next steps are to delve deeper into these findings to develop interventions that support the creation or restoration of life purpose.
“I hope that through these efforts, we can not only mitigate loneliness but also empower older adults to lead more fulfilling and connected lives.”
