loneliness
Avoiding loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic
Updated September 2020 Loneliness amongst older people was a growing crisis before the arrival of COVID-19. Even though some services have been re-opened, the path of the virus means that we are likely to see the likes of community centres, libraries, restaurants and coffee shops providing limited if any services for some time to come. […]
Read more
The first signs of loneliness in friends and family
There is no doubt that people in the UK are now living longer than ever before. While increased life expectancy is a good thing overall, it can lead to issues such as loneliness. This often happens as people become less agile and able to socialise. Of course, loneliness is not restricted to the elderly but […]
Read more
Can a homeshare help my parent feel less lonely?
Can homesharing be an answer to the growing epidemic of loneliness and depression that is affecting our older population? We asked a homeshare expert, Sam Brandman of Two Generations, about how homesharing works in practice, and how we can make it work for our parents. What is a homeshare? A homeshare arrangement brings together a […]
Read more
Why and how to enjoy a great social life at any age
While doom and gloom often feature in stories about our older population, the truth is a little different. According to new research* from Royal Voluntary Service, the national volunteering charity, millions of Britain’s older people are refusing to let age get in the way of an active social life and new friendships. Over 80% of […]
Read more
Helping parents to avoid depression
Written by Kathy Lawrence With depression known to be a real risk in an ageing population, there are many ways that we can help our parents to keep active and independent to stave off the gloom. Our parents can become depressed for many reasons. Losing friends and loved ones is an obvious cause, but loneliness […]
Read more
Practical projects bring people together in Men’s Sheds
Workshop spaces where people can work side by side on personal and community projects are growing fast around the country. Men’s Sheds are a great opportunity to share and learn new skills, enjoy new achievements and make new friends. What are Men’s Sheds? Men’s Sheds, or Men in Sheds, are opening up at more than […]
Read more
Tackling the emerging loneliness crisis for older men
Written by Kathy Lawrence The number of older men living alone is set to increase by 65% by 2030 according to a report published in October 2014. Andrew Kaye, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Independent Age, one of the organisations behind the report, discusses whether loneliness is inevitable. Hardly a week seems to go […]
Read more
Is loneliness now an epidemic among the elderly?
Loneliness among the UK’s ageing population is widely publicised as a health hazard which can increase the risk of depression, dementia and heart attacks. The size of the loneliness challenge The Campaign to End Loneliness reports that 10% of those aged over 65 are chronically lonely while Age UK has found that almost a million […]
Read more
How can we reduce loneliness among the elderly?
The When They Get Older team recently had the chance to contribute their expertise to a project run by Interact Arts Community Interest Company called “Behind Closed Doors” which focused on the issues faced by elderly who live on their own. We were asked to create a factsheet from our Loneliness Guide condensing the information […]
Read more
What are the retirement housing options for my parents?
Life is not a matter of one giant leap from independent living at home to taking up residence in a care home. The choices can be confusing though. We give you a starting point to explore what the options are for your parents and how to decide what they need at any point in their […]
Read more