Half a million older people spend every day alone, poll shows
Scale of loneliness among over-60s revealed as Age UK develops scheme to provide support and companionship
Haroon Siddique
January 6, 2017
“Half a million people over the age of 60 usually spend each day alone, with no interaction with others, and nearly half a million more commonly do not see or speak to anyone for five or six days a week, a poll suggests.
Age UK, which commissioned the research, said the results highlighted a growing number of chronically lonely older people, which was placing increasing demand on health services.
The charity has been running a pilot programme in eight areas where Age UK groups have been actively trying to identify lonely older people and offer them companionship.
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.'”