Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Over the past decade, the quantity and quality of social relationships in later life have become one of the main challenges facing an aging society. Worldwide, roughly 50% of older people are at risk of social isolation, and about one-third of those aged 60 years and over experience loneliness in later life. In Canada, one in five older adults feels socially isolated. Social isolation is a known risk factor for several poor health outcomes, including disability, chronic diseases, depression, and cognitive decline. However, it remains unclear whether or not frailty worsens the effect of social isolation on health. To address this gap, the objective of my research study is to examine the effects of social isolation on frailty and poor health outcomes and to explore how this relationship varies according to different levels of frailty among older adults in Quebec.