Our Goal
Loneliness and isolation amongst the older generation is at epidemic levels in the UK - our goal is to combat this.
Age UK have reported that the number of over-50's experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6. This compares to around 1.4 million in 2016/7 – a 49% increase in 10 years.
People can become socially isolated for a number of reasons, such as getting older or weaker, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, death of spouses and friends, or through disability or illness.
Around half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all with well over half (59%) of those aged 85 and over and 38% of those aged 75 to 84 living alone.
Research by Sense has shown that up to 50% of disabled people will be lonely on any given day.
Whatever the cause, it's easy to be left feeling alone and vulnerable, which can lead to a serious decline in physical/mental health and wellbeing, the reported statistics are shocking; -
- Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
- Loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 26%
- Loneliness is worse for you than obesity.
- Lonely people are more likely to suffer from dementia, heart disease and depression.
- Loneliness and social isolation are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.
Someone who's lonely probably also finds it hard to reach out. There's a stigma surrounding loneliness, and older people tend not to ask for help because they have too much pride.
It's important to remember loneliness can – and does – affect anyone.
We host events and activities throughout the year, signpost to other services and most importantly keep in regular contact with people to help combat the above - a phone call can make a world of difference.
