Conwell begins this article by discussing the rate of elderly suicide (28/100,000 in the USA among those aged 80-84 years compared to 12/100,000 in the general population). He discusses the influence of cohort effects on suicide rates & then reviews suicide risk factors specific to later life. These risk factors include things such as social isolation, retirement, deaths of significant others, & loss of physical health. The author points out that no single factor can be said to “cause” suicide.