“I appreciate it when they come here, but I also bloody do when they leave”: meanings of loneliness among older men living alone

This chapter addresses loneliness which has become a hot topic in current health care research and politics. We briefly review the research on loneliness and, in accordance with this anthology’s focus, try to lay out current knowledge on loneliness among older men. Next, drawing on a recent interview study, the chapter explores the ways in which a group of older men who live alone experience loneliness. Older men living alone as well as the phenomenon of loneliness are subject to myths and stereotypical understandings. We aim to contribute to a more nuanced public and scientific understanding of both through a discussion of the men’s experiences.