Shah SJ, Fang MC, Wannier SR, et al. - Researchers aimed at determining the influence of social support on functional outcomes (ie, activities of daily living dependence, prolonged nursing home stay, death) in older adults who live alone.

• This longitudinal cohort study from the Health and Retirement Study (enrollment March 2006 to April 2015) involved 4,772 community-dwelling older adults 65 years or older who lived alone in the community and could complete activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs) independently; participants were followed up biennially.

• No support was identified in 1,813 (38%) individuals, and there were 3,013 (63%) individuals who experienced a health shock during the study.

• A lower likelihood of prolonged nursing home stays was recorded in correlation with identifiable social support but only in the setting of a sudden change in health (eg, hospitalization, new cancer diagnosis).

• There appeared no association of support with new activities of daily living dependence or death.