Ensamhet ses som en riskfaktor för att utveckla fysisk och mental ohälsa. I Sverige uppskattas var tionde äldre vuxen besväras av ensamhet och psykisk ohälsa. I denna fenomenologiskt inspirerade studie har 19 äldre personer mellan 66-94 år intervjuats om varför de är ensamma och hur de upplever ensamheten, detta innan de deltog i ett äldre kollo sommaren 2017.

Målgruppen för äldre kollot var äldre personer som upplever att de är ensamma och har ett begränsat socialt umgänge och som inte har möjlighet att själva att ta initiativ till att delta i olika aktiviteter och bryta ensamheten.

Syftet med studien var att få kunskap om varför informanterna upplevde ensamhet samt hur de beskrev sina erfarenheter av att vara ensamma innan de deltog i äldre kollot.

Informanterna angav flera orsaker till sin ensamhet och det som framkom i resultaten var bl.a. att det var svårare att få kontakt med andra personer på äldre dar, vänner och bekanta har dött och vänskapsrelationer som de haft tidigare har varit svåra att behålla. Många av informanterna var anhörigvårdare till sin make/maka, några hade nyligen flyttat, de hade sämre ekonomi och att de inte kunde förflytta sig lika flexibelt som tidigare då de inte hade en bil att tillgå. När det gäller upplevelsen om ensamhet utryckte många informanter att de kände sig väldigt ensamma trots att de hade ett aktivt socialt liv. De saknade meningsfulla relationer, någon som de kunde vända sig till i förtroende och utveckla en nära vänskapsrelation med. De upplevde behovet av att tillhöra något eller behovet av en förändring i vardagen.

The aim of the present study was explore why the informants were feeling lonely and considered themselves to be in need of attending a senior summer camp, and how the informants were experiencing loneliness before they went to the senior summer camp. Interviews was made with nineteen older adult people (15 women and 4 men). A phenomenological inspired approach was used for the analysis of the interviews. Eight themes resulted: Hard to make new friends, Other circumstances making it hard to be social, Feel very lonely even if they lead rich social lives, Loss of loved ones, Do not want to do things alone, Friends make a difference, Do not feel lonely but need a change and Loneliness occurs at certain times. Through this analysis, we have gain insights to better understand loneliness as a multifaceted phenomenon that is asso-ciated with both personal circumstances and social situations. Many of the informants experienced being very lonely, even if they lead rich social lives. The experience of loneliness was connected to not having anyone they can turn to in confidence or to share experiences with and the need to belong to something or the need of a change in everyday life.

Loneliness is seen as a risk factor for decreased physical and mental health. Swedish studies have shown that every ten older adults experience severe anxiety and 15 percent are often bothered by loneliness. According to Swedish law all older adults should have an active and meaningful life in community with others. Thus, loneliness among older people has become an important concern in Sweden. Within municipalities various projects are taking place to decrease loneliness among older adults, but these projects are often poorly evaluated. Therefore, knowledge of interventions to decrease loneliness among older adults is essential. From a larger phenomenological inspired study based on interviews with 19 older adults (4 men and 15 women) who had been attending a summer camp, this presentation will bring attention to the reason that these older adults were applying for this experience. Thus, the aim in this part of the study was to explore why they were feeling lonely and considered themselves in need of attending a summer camp and also how they experience loneliness. Often, anxiety and illness are associated with loneliness, but our analysis showed a complex picture of why the interviewees were feeling lonely. Furthermore their experience of loneliness was due not only to an absence of other people to socialize with, but also with the quality of the relationship. This study makes an important contribution in understanding loneliness at older ages and identifies factors that might lead to loneliness among older adults.