While changes to physical health are often discussed as one of the main issues that people have to face as they get older – and, of course, this is something that we will all have to accept, making the necessary changes to adapt to our new circumstances – one topic that is just as important but perhaps not taken quite so seriously is loneliness in old age.

Figures from charity Age UK show that there are 1.4 million older people in the UK who would admit that they are often lonely and, if nothing is done to address this concern, it’s expected that there will be two million people over the age of 50 who will feel this way, having a significant impact on their wellbeing and quality of life.

Further analysis shows that older people are 5.5 times more likely to be lonely if they don’t have someone to open up to, 5.2 times more likely to be lonely if they are widowed, three times more likely if they feel they can’t do the activities they’d like to and 2.3 times more likely to be lonely if they have money issues that stop them from doing what they’d like to.

Research shows that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of health complications like depression, anxiety, heart disease and cognitive decline… so the question must now be asked:

What can be done to tackle loneliness in elderly people?

There are various ways in which you can help yourself stay connected, whether that’s through pursuing the activities you enjoy, taking up new hobbies, introducing yourself to your neighbours, volunteering or finding some other way to get involved in your local community.

It’s also worth remembering that we are lucky enough to live in the digital age, which means there’s a huge amount of technology at our fingertips that can help us stay connected, even if our personal circumstances make it hard for us to enjoy the activities and pursuits that we used to.

Using smart tech can really help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, with an impressive 81 per cent of people over the age of 65 saying that they feel less alone when they use devices like Amazon’s Alexa.

Before using this gadget, 54 per cent of those asked said they sometimes or always felt isolated, but just four weeks of using the smart speaker this had dropped to 35 per cent. 

Interestingly, the device was also found to help improve people’s mood, making them feel calmer and more relaxed, as well as more confident, suggesting it could deliver benefits right across the board.

Alexa aside, the power of other tech like smartphones means that it’s never been easier to get in touch with people via email, text, video call, traditional phone call and social media, all of which can bring people closer and help reduce feelings of loneliness.

And, of course, companionship care can make a huge difference to your day, providing you with company, conversation, laughter and shared activities. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Concept Care team today to see how we can help.