Social Isolation and Loneliness

Here are some interesting figures of the elderly loneliness & isolation ...

"Currently, in Greater London, 250,000 people over 65 do not see a friend, neighbour or family member, at least once a week and 150,000 have no contact with friends, family or neighbours at least once a month. Those figures rise to 3.1 million and 1.8 million, respectively, UK-wide.  Loneliness and social isolation can have severe social, financial, physical and mental repercussions, not only for the elderly themselves but also for the families and for the welfare systems that support them.  The elderly, and all those who help care for them, are thus looking for solutions that address the twin problems of loneliness and social isolation. "

Source "Participle", Get together project....

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Statistics on loneliness and social isolation

Other research carried out over the last few decades has consistently shown that 10% of older people feel always or very lonely. Recent estimates place the number of people aged over 65 who are often or always lonely at over 1 million.

The percentage of the population who feel isolated and are therefore, at risk of loneliness is significantly larger:

• 12% of older people feel trapped in their own home
• 6% of older people leave their house once a week or less
• Nearly 200,000 older people in the UK don’t get help to get out of their house or flat
• 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once a month
• Over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone
• 36% of people aged 65 and over in the UK feel out of touch with the pace of modern life and 9% say they feel cut off from society
• Half of all older people (about 5 million) say the television is their main company

Source "Campaign to end loneliness"...