Charity highlights ‘profound’ loneliness in elderly

New research by Age UK has highlighted that half a million people over the age of 60 usually spend every day alone.

The report, No one should have no one: working to end loneliness amongst older people, emphasises how the UK has a growing number of chronically lonely older people, which is placing increasing demand on health services.

The report goes further to explain that isolated people are more likely to develop health conditions, such as heart problems, depression and dementia.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, said: “This new analysis shows that about a million older people in our country are profoundly alone, many of whom are likely to be enduring the pain and suffering of loneliness.

“That’s why the early results of our pilot programme into tackling loneliness in later life are so important: nine in 10 older people who were often lonely when they started the programme were less lonely six to 12 weeks later, with many also saying they felt generally happier, more confident and more independent as a result.

“Unfortunately, there is no simple solution for loneliness, but our pilot programme shows we really can make a difference and provides crucial insights into how the problem can be successfully overcome.”

The charity has been running a pilot programme, Testing Promising Approaches to Reducing Loneliness, in eight areas where Age UK groups have been actively trying to identify lonely older people and offer them companionship.

88 per cent of lonely older people participating in the trial experienced a reduction in loneliness.