Working together to create vital connections with older peopleLaura Ferguson, Director, Campaign to End Loneliness

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

To discuss…

• What is loneliness?• What causes loneliness?• The impacts of loneliness• Combating loneliness:

– Individual action– Improved interventions– Creative partnerships

• What the Campaign to End Loneliness will do

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

“I want to visit family members more often but …the cost of petrol is too high and the cost of a train ticket

is out of the question – I would have to win the lottery.”

Quoted in Listening to You, a baseline survey for the Campaign to End Loneliness, Cupitt (2011)

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Definitions*

• Loneliness – personal perspective• Isolation – can be counted by someone else

Isolation can lead to loneliness, but sometimes solitude can be wonderful.

*Adapted from Professor Mima Cattan, Northumbria University

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Statistics on isolation and loneliness

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

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 (Victor et al, 2003)

Over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone (ONS, 2010)

Half of all older people (over 5 million) say the television is their main company (Harrop and Jopling, 2009)

9% say they feel cut off from society (GfK/NOP, 2005)

Just under 50% of older people are sometimes or always lonely and 10% of older people say they always feel lonely (Victor et al, 2003)

What causes loneliness?

Wider society:•Transport•Physical environment •Community involvement•Housing •Technology •Change

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Personal:•Health/ disability •Income – determines activity•Age – ‘older old’•Life stages and change: bereavement

The impact of loneliness

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Health – physical and mental•As big a risk to health as smoking and obesity•A doubled risk of Alzheimer’s disease•Greater likelihood of unhealthy life style•Damage to immune and cardiovascular system•Clear link to depression

Combating loneliness…

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Combatting loneliness through..Individuals taking action

“I know people contribute a lot toward making your life, but I do think you’ve got to try and make a life for yourself as well. I mean, I for one would not sit here for 3 weeks on my own with no one to talk to. I’ve got a free bus pass and I would go to… one of the big places ‘cause there is always somebody that will talk to you”

Quote from Safeguarding the Convoy, A Call to Action from the Campaign to End Loneliness, Age UK Oxfordshire

(2011)

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

… working in communities

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

… working together to create vital connectionsLocal statutory agencies partnering with local

voluntary and community groups to..

• Understand need via grassroots and mapping

• Fix baselines and milestones

• Existing money, small amounts of money, or no money

• Making loneliness a public health task

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Where to start?

• Everyone taking responsibility to make a small difference

• Involving older people

• Identifying those who are lonely or are at risk of loneliness

• Ensuring the health impacts of loneliness are acted upon through local health commissioning

• Preventing loneliness at times of life-change

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

What will we do…

• Raise awareness - health impacts of loneliness. Nationwide campaign to influence health and wellbeing boards in 2012.

• Peer-learning – sharing what works in reducing loneliness – could your project be included?

• We will improve the knowledge base about loneliness – working with researchers and practitioners in the older age charity sector.

• We will inspire people approaching older age to futureproof their lives against loneliness.

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

Join us

Receive the latest research news on combating loneliness oSign up as a supporter – receive the latest research news on lonelinessoFollow us on twitter @EndLonelinessUK oinfo@campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk to receive our e-updates

Campaign to End Loneliness

3 Rufus Street, London N1 6PE

laura@campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

020 7012 1409

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

‘Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most

terrible poverty.’Mother Teresa

www.campaigntoendloneliness.org.uk

ReferencesCattan, M, White, M, Bond, J and Learmouth, A (2005). Preventing social isolation and loneliness among older people: a systematic review of health promotion interventions. Ageing and Society, 25, 1, 41–67

GfK/NOP (2005) ‘Help Unite Generations (HUG) Survey for Help the Aged’ (unpublished)

GfK/NOP (2006) ‘Spotlight 2006 Survey for Help the Aged’ (unpublished) data was used in Help The Aged (2006) Spotlight Report 2006: spotlight on older people in the UK (Help the Aged: London)

Harrop, A and Jopling, K (2009) One Voice: shaping our ageing society (Age Concern and Help the Aged) can be accessed online: http://www.pdteam.org.uk/olderpeople/documents/OneVoiceReport.pdf

Harrop, A and Jopling, K (2009) One Voice: shaping our ageing society (Age Concern and Help the Aged).

Office for National Statistics (2010) General Lifestyle Survey 2008 (London: Office for National Statistics).

Victor, C. Scambler, S, Bond, J and Bowling, A. ‘Being alone in later life: loneliness, social isolation and living alone’ Reviews in Clinical Gerontology 2000 v.10 (4)